Tennis: Creaking Djokovic adjusting to new reality at French Open


Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 2, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his third round match against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was pushed to his limit in a physically punishing French Open encounter by Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Friday and the 36-year-old twice champion said he had accepted the fact that his body behaved differently now.

The Serbian, who is seeking a men's record 23rd Grand Slam title to overtake the injured Rafa Nadal, spent more than three hours on court - much of it battling away in two exhausting opening sets - before prevailing 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 6-2.

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