Novak Djokovic at French Open 2023: when is 22 Grand Slam winner playing? Start-time and opponent ranking

Novak Djokovic has reached the third round of the French Open after beating Aleksandar Kovacevic and Marton Fucsovics. The world number three beat the American 6-3 6-2 7-6 and and the Hungarian 7-6 6-0 6-3 as he strides on into the next stage of the tournament.

Djokovic is bidding to lift his 23rd Grand Slam title and go one step further than Rafael Nadal, with whom he currently shares the record for the most Grand Slam titles in the men’s sport.

Rafael Nadal had been hoping to win his 15th French Open title in Paris this year but has had to withdraw due to an ongoing hip injury. The Spaniard has now signalled his intention to retire following the 2024 ATP season and next year’s French Open could be one of his last events.

As controversy continues to pervade the Serbian following his recent camera message relating to the ongoing troubles taking place in Kosovo, here is all you need to know ahead of Novak Djokovic’s third round fixture...

When is Novak Djokovic next playing?

Djokovic will next take to the court on Friday 2 June. It is not yet known which court the world number three will play on or indeed what time he is set to hit the court.

Who is Novak Djokovic’s opponent?

The world number three will face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 29th seed at this year’s tournament. The 22-year-old beat Arthur Fils 6-1 4-6 6-3 6-3 and Fils compatriot Luca Van Assche 6-4 6-3 7-6 to reach the third stage of the tournament.

In 2021, Davidovich Fokina reached the quarter-final of the tournament, his furthest ever stage in a Grand Slam. The two tennis stars have played each other three times overall with Djokovic winning their first two meetings, both in 2021, but the Spaniard won their most recent battle which took place at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters.

Who could Djokovic face in the fourth round?

Djokovic is set to face either JP Varillas or Hubert Hurkacz, the world number 13, in the fourth round of the tournament.

How to watch French Open 2023

The second Grand Slam of the year will be shown across Eurosport platforms in the UK. Eurosport 1 and 2 will have wall-to-wall coverage of the tournament each day as the rounds progress.

It will also be possible to live stream the action through Eurosport’s discovery+ and the plan is available for £6.99/year or £59.99/year. Discovery+ can be added to Amazon Prime accounts by signing up as an add-on.

Who else is playing in French Open 2023?

Carlos Alcaraz has taken Djokovic’s usual spot as the tournament top seed and will be looking to win his second Grand Slam after his US Open victory in September. After missing the Australian Open through injury, the 20-year-old Spaniard went on to win four of his six next tournaments, including Indian Wells and the Madrid Open.

Daniil Medvedev is the second seed in the French capital and the ATP tournament also sees last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz as well as Britain’s Cameron Norrie who is now the last remaining Briton in the tournament.