The 38-year-old had not played a match in almost two months due to a shoulder injury, and this was only Djokovic’s third tournament of the season. He looked fine early on, winning four games in a row to clinch the first set.

PARIS (AP) — At age 39, Novak Djokovic can still wear opponents down. Even opponents nearly half his age — and in front of a hostile crowd. Djokovic came back from a set down for a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory over 22-year-old home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the French Open on Sunday in his record 82nd Grand Slam appearance.