Novak Djokovic was delighted after he defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of Roland Garros on Sunday. After losing the opening set, there was pressure on the Serbian but he handled with guile to move into the second round of the French Open.

Djokovic hasn’t played consistently on the tour and with uncertainty hanging over his physical condition, he was able to bring his best in the final three sets.

“It was a good match to be part of, three hours, just what the doctor ordered, at age 39. Here we go,” Djokovic said in his press conference after overcoming Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4.

Djokovic could not convert the first nine break points he created but finally broke the Frenchman’s serve. This was the pair’s maiden meeting on the tour.

“I think nobody wants him in the draw, to be honest,” the third seed said of Mpetshi Perricard. “If he puts certain things together, he can have a really bright future. Obviously playing a French player, centre court, Roland Garros, is never so easy. Obviously the crowd gets into it and then you feel the pressure even more.”

The third seed revealed physically he is feeling fine despite not playing regularly on the tour.

“The body is feeling all right for now,” said Djokovic, whose best result this season is a run to the Australian Open final. “Of course I have to get the game together, and hopefully that will happen as I progress.”

Djokovic will next meet another Frenchman in Valentin Royer. It will be their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.