Day 7 - Under the lights: New challenge for Novak

 - Alix Ramsay

Novak Djokovic (6) vs Filip Misolic (Q): Saturday 31 May, Court Philippe-Chatrier, not before 20:15

First things first: Novak Djokovic’s foot should be fine. He seemed to be in some considerable pain in his previous match against Corentin Moutet but the problem was only a blister. A nasty blister, mind you, but blisters can be treated quickly and the former champion was confident that he should be fit and raring to go against world No.153 Filip Misolic.

Unsurprisingly, the two have never met before: Djokovic has spent most of the past 20 years mopping up Grand Slam titles while 23-year-old Misolic had only played 22 tour-level matches as he began his second Roland Garros campaign (he qualified last year, too). This year, he has lived exclusively on the Challenger circuit.

No matter, the Austrian came through the qualifying draw without dropping a set and beat Denis Shapovalov, the No.27 seed, on Thursday.

His dream job is, unusually for a tennis player, to be an agronomist: an expert in the science of soil management and crop production. Maybe that is why he likes the clay so much (he has failed to qualify for any other Slam), and by reaching the third round, he has set a new career milestone.

But, as ever in these matches, it is all about Djokovic. He is slowly building his confidence levels after a difficult 10 months since he won Olympic gold. And beating an inspired Frenchman in front of a boisterous crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen a couple of days ago has done wonders for his mood.