Novak Djokovic v Valentin Royer LIVE: French Open result and reaction as Djokovic battles through mini scare to reach 21st consecutive third round

That was an extraordinary final point, an extraordinary couple of hours really. Djokovic shows Royer a lot of respect at the net as they come together and shake hands. He knows the Frenchman has pushed him to three hours and 44 minutes. We all know that almost four hours on court, in these conditions, is far from ideal.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! A 21st consecutive third round at the French Open for Novak Djokovic, who was pushed into an extra set and extra hour by a spirited Valentin Royer but prevails in four sets to keep his bid for a 25th grand slam title alive.

Djokovic will know he could have been off court a while ago, but credit to the Frenchman for digging in and saving match point in the third-set tiebreak. Djokovic has now won 31 matches in a row against French opponents.

From deuce, Djokovic found an ace down the middle. From there, he breaks Royer’s resistance on the fifth match point of the match, with Djokovic almost collapsing after the sheer effort of getting over the line!

Encroyable. Djokovic brings out the violin on match point.

Royer saves TWO MORE MATCH POINTS in a huge last stand from the Frenchman! He has Chatrier on its feet, begging for more, and gets a look at break point as Djokovic double-faults. Royer goes big on the forehand, and has a look, but he pushes long! What a battle this is!

Djokovic roars after the backhand down the line… a fourth match point, but Royer saves again! This time he does it with touch, controlling a big whack from Djokovic to guide a clever volley over the net. This is good stuff.

Credit to Royer for holding serve, aiming another big forehand down the barrel of Djokovic and coming out on top. Djokovic will serve for the third set.

Jakub Mensik was helped into a wheelchair after collapsing onto the court while suffering from cramps following his brutal victory over Mario Navone in a five-set epic at the French Open.

The 20-year-old Czech and 26th seed fell to his back after beating Navone 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 (13-11) in a fifth-set tiebreak, after four hours and 41 minutes in gruelingly hot conditions in Paris.

After struggling physically earlier in the match and requiring a medical timeout for cramp, Mensik was unable to meet Navone at the net following match point and the Argentinian walked round to shake hands while he was still lying on the clay.

Djokovic gets the break! He is guiding Royer all around the court in these baseline rallies, and picks his moment to find the crosscourt forehand.

Wow! A stunning forehand winner from Djokovic, on the run, as he finds the narrow gap between umpire’s chair and net post and drills the shot down the line. Royer is stunned.

Djokovic was involved in an animated conversation with umpire James Keothavong during the pause between sets, and he appeared irritated by the lights or the shadows on Chatrier. We have reached that awkward point in the day where the shadows lengthen across the court.

Djokovic is taken to deuce on serve, with Royer making life very difficult as he launches into returns, throwing everything at it – and wriggles out of a testing game to get the opening hold of the fourth.

We’re going to a fourth set! Royer saves match point, then forces another chapter!

On 7-7, Royer caught the net tape and the ball landed awkwardly for Djokovic, while there was a cry from the crowd. Djokovic hit out, and then sarcastically applauded the crowd. On set point, Djokovic put his return long, and Chatrier rises to applaud the Frenchman! A great effort, from a break down in the fourth.

I had already thought that Djokovic had this done and dusted.

Royer saves match point! Point of the match so far, as the Frenchman battles for survival from the baseline. He injected some width with the backhand crosscourt, and Djokovic went for the winner down the line, but goes long!