Djokovic scheduled Day 1 night session

Novak Djokovic is set to open his Roland-Garros campaign in the tournament’s first night session on Sunday, May 24, according to the French Open’s official schedule released Friday. The three-time champion will face Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at 8:15 p.m. on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Roland-Garros said. The Serbian, who turned 39 on Friday, arrives in Paris after what the tournament site described as an injury-plagued 2026. Djokovic told organizers that “the response of the body and the preparation has been positive in the last 10 days.” ### Why is Djokovic in the night session on opening day? Roland-Garros said Friday that Djokovic would headline the Sunday evening program, making him the featured player in the first night session of the 2026 main draw. The tournament site said the opening-day schedule was published Friday evening and listed his first-round match against Mpetshi Perricard in the prime-time slot. (rolandgarros.com) Sunday is the first day of main-draw singles play in Paris, with 40 men’s and women’s first-round matches scheduled across 10 courts, according to the tournament. Play is due to begin at 11 a.m. local time on all courts except Philippe-Chatrier, where the first match starts at noon. ### Who is Djokovic playing, and what did Roland-Garros say? (rolandgarros.com) Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is the French opponent named by Roland-Garros for Djokovic’s opener. The official tournament article identified him as the player Djokovic will face as the Serbian begins what Roland-Garros called his bid for a 25th Grand Slam singles title. (rolandgarros.com) Friday’s tournament wrap also carried Djokovic’s comments about his physical condition. “Thankfully, the response of the body and the preparation has been positive in the last 10 days, so here I am, and we’ll see what happens,” he said, according to Roland-Garros. ### What is the condition question around Djokovic coming into Paris? (rolandgarros.com) Roland-Garros said Djokovic has had an “injury-plagued 2026,” framing his physical status as one of the main questions before the event begins. The tournament site did not detail a new injury in the Friday wrap, but it paired his comments on preparation with that description of his season. (rolandgarros.com) Tuesday’s practice coverage from Roland-Garros showed Djokovic back on Court Philippe-Chatrier during opening week preparations. The tournament said more than 5,000 ticket holders watched him practice and described him as returning to the Paris court where he has won three French Open titles and an Olympic gold medal. ### What does the Sunday schedule around him look like? (rolandgarros.com) Court Philippe-Chatrier will begin Sunday’s play with Belinda Bencic in the opening match, according to Roland-Garros’ order-of-play article. Djokovic’s match is scheduled for the evening, separate from the daytime program on the main court. The full tournament calendar published by Roland-Garros shows main-draw singles starting on Sunday, May 24, and running through the championship matches in early June. (rolandgarros.com) The site also maintains the official day-by-day order of play and results page for match scheduling updates. ### What happens next in Paris? (rolandgarros.com) Sunday, May 24 is Djokovic’s scheduled first-round date at Roland-Garros, with his match against Mpetshi Perricard set for 8:15 p.m. local time on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Roland-Garros said the day-by-day order of play is posted on its official schedule page, where any updates to the opening-day lineup would appear. (rolandgarros.com 1) (rolandgarros.com 2)