Top News

Not since his tournament debut in 2005 had Djokovic failed to reach round three at Roland-Garros, and a break in game six proved the difference as he took the opening set.

The three-time French Open winner broke in the opening game of the second set, and again in the fifth to double his lead, seemingly putting himself on course for a commanding straight-sets victory.

However, Djokovic saw two breaks cancelled out in the third as games five to eight all went against serve. He also saw a match point go begging in the subsequent tie-break, with Royer digging deep to force a fourth set.

The Serbian responded with a break in game four of the fourth set, and he eventually converted his fourth match point to set up a third-round clash with either Joao Fonseca or Dino Prizmic, the latter of whom recently eliminated Djokovic from the Italian Open.

Elsewhere, Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov were also four-set winners against Camilo Ugo Carabelli and Marco Trungelliti respectively, while 26th seed Jakub Mensik edged out Mariano Navone in an epic fifth-set tie-break.

Data Debrief: More history for Novak

Djokovic was playing his 120th match at the French Open, surpassing Roger Federer (119 at Wimbledon) for the most matches appeared in at a single major.

The Serbian also moved level with Federer (21 at the Australian Open) for the joint-most third-round appearances at a single men's slam in the Open Era.

However, it was not a vintage display from Djokovic, who hit nine double-faults to his opponent's four, though he did thunder down 10 aces.