Djokovic battles through to book Verdasco showdown

Novak Djokovic booked his place in the fourth round of the French Open with a hard-fought victory over Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday. The 20th seed reached the last 16 – where he will face Fernando Verdasco – at Roland Garros for the 12th time in his career after triumphing 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 on Suzanne Lenglen Court.

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Djokovic slogs it out to make the next round

Yet the Serbian - who cruised past Rogerio Dutra Silva and Jaume Munar in the previous rounds - was on court for three hours and 48 minutes before finally recording a fourth successive win over Bautista Agut on clay. Djokovic claimed a close opening set, clinching the first break in the match in the 10th game to move ahead. When he gained control early in the second, a third successive straight-sets victory in the French capital looked on the cards.

However, Bautista Agut – seeded 13th – hit back, grabbing a break of his own before staving off three set points and prevailing in a tense tie-break thanks to an error from his opponent. Djokovic smashed his racquet after missing a simple forehand close to the net and there were further signs of frustration when he fell behind early in the next set, too.

But the 12-time grand slam champion overcame the odd lapse to triumph, taking the third via a tie-break after Bautista Agut failed to serve it out and then breezing through the fourth. A drop of serve when in position to win the match did not matter for Djokovic, though, as Bautista Agut was broken in the next game, sending him through to a tie with Verdasco.

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Clay expert

Verdasco had earlier demonstrated his class on clay with a straightforward win over disillusioned fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov. The Spaniard had saved four set points in the opener on his way to a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-4 triumph, with Dimitrov - knocked out in the third round for a second successive year - declaring afterwards he will be taking a break from the sport.