Novak Djokovic cut through the tie-break tension in style on Friday at Roland Garros, where the third seed overcame a fierce challenge from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to seal a 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-2 third-round victory.

The two-time champion Djokovic withstood a barrage of big hitting from the 29th seed Davidovich Fokina in two richly entertaining opening sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Serbian then took control in the third set for a hard-earned three-hour, 36-minute victory.

“I knew it was going to be a very difficult match, a very physical match,” Djokovic said. “We played three hours for only two sets. He contested very well. He is an amazing fighter and an amazing player. He has very few weaknesses in his game. Congratulations to him for fighting. Bad luck, but he played a great match.”

Djokovic is now into the fourth round at Roland Garros for the 14th year in a row as he chases a record 23rd major trophy, as well as a return to No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, this fortnight in Paris. His next opponent in the French capital will be 13th seed Hubert Hurkacz or Juan Pablo Varillas.

“A win is a win. The first two sets, three hours, I thought if I lose the second set, I will probably be playing five hours today,” Djokovic said. “You have to be ready. That is what Grand Slams are all about, playing best of five. You have to believe in yourself and make the most out of it. I am proud of the performance today.”

The match against Davidovich Fokina followed a similar pattern to Djokovic’s triumph over Marton Fucsovics in the second round. The Serbian won a tight tie-break in the opening set against the Hungarian before motoring away to clinch a straight-sets win.

Competing against the Spaniard on Friday, Djokovic twice fell a break of serve behind in a entertaining first set as Davidovich Fokina’s clean hitting pulled the Serbian all around Court Philippe-Chatrier. Djokovic reclaimed the break in the next game on both occasions, however, and the 36-year-old then raised his level in the tie-break, clinching the set with a stunning forehand return winner.

Any suggestion that disappointment would deflate Davidovich Fokina’s challenge was quickly dispelled as the Spaniard opened a 2-0 lead in the second set. Djokovic responded by reeling off four games to lead, but Davidovich Fokina, who defeated the Serbian on clay in Monte-Carlo last year, rallied to force a tie-break.

The World No. 3 found another gear in the tie-break, winning a series of lung-busting rallies to move further clear. Djokovic let out a roar after winning the set, raising his fist to the crowd in celebration. Djokovic, who is seeded to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, raced through the third set, clubbing 11 winners in the set to seal his 23rd win of the year.

Top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski continued their quest for their first major title as a team on Friday when they defeated Pedro Cachin and Wu Yibing 6-4, 6-2 at Roland Garros.

The Dutch-British pair won 92 per cent (23/25) of their first-serve points to advance after 70 minutes. Koolhof and Skupski won seven tour-level titles last season but are still seeking their first crown in 2023. They will meet Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela in the third round.

Marcelo Melo, who earned his 600th tour-level doubles win earlier this week, and John Peers moved past Rome champions Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski 7-6(5), 6-4. They will next play Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury advanced after Roberto Carballes Baena and Jaume Munar were forced to retire when trailing 2-3 in the first set. Matwe Middelkoop and Andreas Mies defeated Jonathan Eysseric and Harold Mayot 7-5, 6-3.

Two-time champion Kevin Krawietz maintained his impressive Roland Garros record when he teamed with Tim Puetz to down Roman Arneodo and Sam Weissborn 6-4, 6-2.

Last year’s finalists Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek beat Marc-Andrea Huesler and Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-2 to reach the third round. Belgians Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen also advanced, defeating Roman Jebavy and Luis David Martinez 6-1, 6-2.

Defending Roland Garros champions Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer cruised into the third round in Paris on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Nicolas Barrientos and Robert Galloway.

The third seeds were forced to battle in the first round against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Petros Tsitsipas, whom they ultimately outlasted in a final-set tie-break. Their second-round clash was more straightforward — they did not face a break point.

Arevalo and Rojer will next play 13th seeds Jamie Murray and Michael Venus, who defeated Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-1, 7-5. Venus won the Roland Garros title in 2017 alongside Ryan Harrison.

In other second-round action, fifth seeds Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara squeaked by Ilya Ivashka and Alexei Popyrin 7-6(3), 7-5. Tenth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos ousted Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 6-0, 6-3.

Seventh seeds Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski, this year’s Australian Open finalists, beat home hopes Richard Gasquet and Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-2.

In a first-round match, 12th seeds Matwe Middelkoop and Andreas Mies eliminated Alexander Bublik and Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-1.