When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Djokovic was unconvincing as he progressed to the last 16 over four sets in a match which required two tie-breaks. The pair were on court for four hours and there was little to separate them until Djokovic cranked through the gears to take the final set 6-2. The Serbian embraced his opponent at the net after the battle and Bautista Agut has lifted the lid on what was said. “Yeah, kind words we have at the end of the match,” Bautista Agut said. “It's a pleasure for me to play against Novak always.<doc-sep>Djokovic came out on top (Picture: AP) Novak Djokovic overcame a major test of his French Open credentials as he outlasted Roberto Bautista Agut to book his spot in the fourth round. The Serb had seemed somewhat passive in his first two matches against qualifiers Rogerio Dutra Silva and Jaume Munar but proved the fire in his belly was still burning during a battling 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 win – his first victory over top-15 opposition since Rome 2017. Flicking between black and white outfits, the Serb dug deep amid periods of immense frustration, which peaked when he decimated his racquet at the end of the second set, and showed feisty emotion and desire on the court – an encouraging sign for his follwers. There was, of course, some sublime tennis thrown in too – with both men putting on a splendid show on Suzanne-Lenglen – as Djokovic gradually wore down an opponent who showed steely determination at a time when it must be so difficult for his focus not to wander. Bautista Agut couldn’t find a way through (Picture: EPA) The 13th seed tragically lost his mother just a week before the tournament began but he pushed his personal problems to the back of his mind as he scrapped for every ball against one of tennis’ all-time greats. For Djokovic, a fourth-round match with Bautista Agut’s compatriot Fernando Verdasco awaits, after the Spaniard dumped fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov out in straight sets, but as he grows into the tournament, he’s showing signs that he could go very deep in this event. Recovery from a gruelling match that lasted the best part of four hours will be key to his progress, but assuming his body is up to the task, few will be able to grind past the mental fortitude rediscovered by the 12-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic was pumped up (Picture: AP) Djokovic had made a bad habit of dropping serve at the start of matches so far at Roland Garros but he opened the match in strong fashion, hitting a couple of aces on his way to an easy hold. Indeed, he served well throughout the set and while he missed a break point chance at 4-3, he regrouped and broke at the death to take the lead. An early break in the second saw Djokovic assume complete control and he raced to a 3-0 advantage. Bautista Agut, ever the competitor, forced his way back into the tie with a break back and saved set points to move into a breaker. At 6-6, Djokovic saw a routine short forehand clip the top of the net and fly agonisingly out – with his racquet paying the price with its life as the Serb smashed it in style. Djokovic smashed his racquet (Picture: EPA) Moments later, Bautista Agut had levelled, though the former world No. 1 refrained from destroying a second racquet in the space of a minute. Having regrouped to get an early break in the third, Djokovic was then broken twice again and found himself 3-1 down. The Serb came up with the goods again, though, producing two sumptuous drop-shots on his way to breaking immediately back before holding for 3-3. Bautista Agut got his nose in front once more but failed to serve it out, with Djokovic clawing his way back into things and at 5-5 he won arguably the point of the match with a remarkable sprint to the net before geeing up the crowd at a crucial junction in the match. Djokovic was pushed hard in the third (Picture: EPA) Beyond the three-hour mark, the players went into a second tiebreak of the clash. After a horrible net cord in the second set tiebreak, Djokovic was the recipient of a very kind one in the third as he moved 6-2 up and he soon got his nose back in front. Things were far more routine in the fourth set as the Serb secured a double break and set up a fourth-round tie with Verdasco in style.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Djokovic has won back-to-back games at Roland Garros after seeing off Rogerio Dutra da Silva and Jaume Munar and he is now paired against world No 13 Bautista-Agut. Djokovic has made at least the fourth round in 13 of his last 15 Grand Slam appearances including the Australian Open back in January. The pair have met seven times previously with Djokovic winning six of those match-ups, including at the 2016 French Open - the year that the Serbian came out victorious. Bautista-Agut has seen off Denis Istomin and Santiago Giraldo already this week and comes into this contest seven seeds higher than former No 1 Djokovic.<doc-sep>Djokovic spoke to Bautista Agut at the net after the match (AFP Photo/CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT ) Paris (AFP) - Novak Djokovic consoled a grieving Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday after the Spaniard played at the French Open only a week after his mother's death. Former champion Djokovic knocked the 13th seed out in the third round by claiming a hardfought 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory. "I like Roberto. He's a very nice guy. We get along very well ever since he came on the tour," said the Serbian. "We have tons of respect and appreciation for each other. We exchanged these words. I tried to, also give him support for... I don't know how much you guys know, but he has been through some difficult times with his family. "That's something that is really unfortunate, and for him to come to this tournament and to be able to play like this, it's quite an effort." The 31-year-old former world number one struggled at times on Suzanne Lenglen court, but eventually came through the four-set battle in three hours and 48 minutes with Bautista Agut, who said he "didn't know" how he managed to play the tournament. "My life is tennis... I'm used to going inside the court and forgetting about my real life and try to do my work," said the 30-year-old as he reflected on the death of his mother, Ester. "That's the thing I've been doing for a lot of years. I have to tell you that it was not easy to go on court these days." Djokovic has now made the last 16 of a Slam for the 43rd time, tying Jimmy Connors on the all-time list. The 12-time Grand Slam champion, seeded 20 after struggling to find his best form since returning from an elbow injury, will take on Fernando Verdasco for a last-eight place after the Spaniard knocked out fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov. The Serbian has also reached the second week at Roland Garros for the last nine years in a row. "Fours hours for the match, I'm a bit tired, Bautista Agut plays with too much patience for me, but I'm very happy to have won the match," said Djokovic, who holds a 10-4 head-to-head record over Verdasco. Story continues Djokovic, who at 22 in the world is at his lowest ranking since 2006, became frustrated at times during the opening set, but he grabbed the first break of the match in game 10 to take a one-set advantage. The 31-year-old looked to have found his rhythm when he eased 4-1 clear in the second, but Bautista Agut battled back and saved three set points before taking a tie-break. Djokovic was given a warning for racquet abuse as his anger boiled over. "In these kind of circumstances, sometimes emotions get, you know, get the worst out of you," he said. "I'm not proud of doing that, to be honest. I don't like doing that. But at times, it happens." He continued to grind away in a topsy-turvy third set, though, with Bautista Agut failing to serving it out as both players were broken three times. The gruelling encounter passed three hours as Djokovic forced another breaker, which he took on his third set point. That knocked the resistance out of the Spaniard, as he was broken at the first time of asking in the fourth set. Djokovic is still lacking a little of the killer instinct of previous years, and he failed to serve out the match when leading 5-1, but quickly put any thoughts of a late wobble to bed in the following game.<doc-sep>
Djokovic said some kind words to the Spaniard after the match (Picture: EPA) Novak Djokovic was forced to dig deep during an epic fight with Roberto Bautista Agut at the French Open, with the match lasting the best part of four hours. The Serb overcame his Spanish opposition 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, showing plenty of heart to defeat the gritty 30-year-old. At the end of the match, the pair enjoyed a long embrace at the net, with Djokovic clearly offering kind words to the 13th seed. Bautista Agut suffered the loss of his mother a week prior to the tournament beginning and Djokovic revealed that he had issued some words of comfort after their gruelling battle. ‘Well, I like Roberto. He’s a very nice guy,’ the 31-year-old said after the match. Djokovic picked up the win (Picture: AP) ‘We get along very well ever since he came on the tour. We have tons of respect and appreciation for each other. ‘So I just – we exchanged these words. I tried to, you know, also give him support for, you know, I don’t know if I should talk about this, but he had, I don’t know how much you guys know, but he has been through some difficult times with his family. ‘That’s something that, you know, is really unfortunate, and for him to come to this tournament and to be able to play like this, it’s quite an effort.’ Bautista Agut was defeated (Picture: EPA) The 13th seed appreciated the gesture from Djokovic and thanked him for the match. ‘Yeah, kind words we have at the end of the match,’ Bautista Agut said. ‘It’s a pleasure for me to play against Novak always. ‘And we played some really nice matches and, unlucky for me, I lost more than I won. But it’s nice to play against him.’ Djokovic will go on to face Bautista Agut’s compatriot Fernando Verdasco in the next round.