Novak Djokovic edges to first round victory at 2024 Roland Garros over Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Novak Djokovic began his Roland Garros title defense with a hard-fought opening win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

The world No. 1, who must at least reach the final to have a chance of fending off Jannik Sinner atop the ATP rankings, has been in search of his best form for much of 2024, and navigated a tricky three sets to ultimately overcome the French wild card in two hours and 31 minutes under the lights of Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Djokovic hasn’t won a title since ending the 2023 season with a win at the ATP Finals, an uncharacteristic drought for the 24-time Grand Slam champion and his longest since he went 11 months without a title between 2017 and 2018.

He began the season with a surprising semifinal defeat at the Australian Open to Sinner, and withdrew from the Miami Open after a shock opening-round defeat at the BNP Paribas Open to unheralded Italian Luca Nardi. After suffering a bizarre head injury at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Djokovic, who turned 37 earlier this month, accepted a wild card into the Gonet Geneva Open just last week, where he won his 1100th career match but lost in the semifinals to Tomas Machac in a streaky affair.

Making his 20th main-draw appearance in Paris, Djokovic nonetheless arrived as one of the favorites to win his fourth title on the terre battue, and was an especially heavy favorite against Herbert, a former world No. 36 who has since fallen out of the Top 100 as he has seen more success in doubles. The five-time men’s doubles major champion, now 33 years old, has also opened up about the heartbreaking illness suffered by his youngest child.

“Our son, Leandre, 4 months old at the time, was diagnosed with congenital hyperinsunilism, a rare genetic disease,” he explained on social media. “After weeks spent in three different hospitals, dozens of exams, medical appointments, misfortunes, stress, we have made, normally, our last hospital stay. Leandre underwent pancreatic surgery in early April that lasted 10 hours.”

With his son cured, Herbert could take the court with a clear mind against Djokovic, and made the most of his night session scheduling in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Djokovic was in control of the match early, breaking in the third game of the match and holding on to take the opening set. But from a break up in the second, Herbert began to make his claim on the match, breaking back and ultimately forcing a tiebreaker.

Though Herbert lost the Sudden Death, he continued to keep things close in the third, saving a pair of break points in the fourth game as he made Djokovic work for the win.

Undaunted, Djokovic kept applying pressure on serve and got his chance to end the match when Herbert threw in an ill-timed double fault that put him two points from defeat. Herbert sent Djokovic tumbling two points later but Djokovic responded with a strong forehand winner and earned a match point with a backhand down the line. One last double fault from Herbert send Djokovic over the finish line.

Awaiting the top seed in the second round is Roberto Carballés Baena, who over came a late surge from Constant Lestienne to defeat the Frenchman in four sets. Djokovic has beaten the unseeded Spaniard twice at Grand Slam tournaments, most recently at the 2023 Australian Open.