Roland-Garros: 8 in a row for Djokovic as Schwartzman awaits in fourth round

Novak Djokovic defeated Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 on Friday to set up a fourth-round clash against 15th seeded Diego Schwartzman

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his third round match against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene at the French Open Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

May 27, 2022

World No 1 Novak Djokovic is through to the fourth round at Roland-Garros after defeating Slovenian Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in Paris on Friday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion eased through his third round match in one hour and 44 minutes. The Serb broke his opponent on six occasions (out of 11 break point opportunities) while he faced only break point against his own serve, which he saved.

The win was also Djokovic’s eighth match in a row, all of which have come in straight sets.

Placement perfection 🎯

The world No.1 extends his lead over Bedene 2-0. #RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/85onV1L8vz
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2022

Bedene has announced earlier that this would be his last French Open and that he would retire at the end of the season with aspirations to work in football.

#Djokovic opponent today is becoming a football agent 🙂 Also, Bedene said that GOAT race is now "race in two". #RolandGarros

Novakov protivnik: Fudbalski agent igra teniski 'Last Dance' https://t.co/TQiyM1ONED
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) May 27, 2022

The season picking up for Djokovic after a miserable start

After a rough start to the season, which saw Djokovic get deported from Melbourne and unable to defend his Australian Open title, and miss the Indian Wells and Miami stretch, things have been looking up for the Serb on the professional front.

He picked up his first title of the season at the Rome Masters and headed into Paris as one of the favourites for the title. So far, he has yet to drop a set through his first three rounds at the French Open as he moves closer to an eagerly-awaited quarter-final showdown against arch-rival Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic will next meet Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, the No 15 seed, in the round of 16. Schwartzman had scored an equally comfortable straight sets win over Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day, winning 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 earlier on Friday.

Paris (Grand Slam): Friday men’s third-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 43.600.000)