He can! Novak Djokovic mucks up his forehand drop shot.

The crowd is cheering every point won by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who strikes two forehand winners in the game to bring up break point. The second comes from a tame Novak Djokovic smash.

Can he break back at the first time of asking?

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

Novak Djokovic is fully in the driving seat now, he has his foot well down on the accelerator and is in charge.

Novak Djokovic breaks out into a huge grin.

Deep forehands are exchanged back and forth, back and forth. Djokovic fakes another before nailing a teasing drop shot winner.

An early break for the third seed.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is inviting pressure once again, sending a backhand long.

Advantage Novak Djokovic.

Two break points saved, Novak Djokovic netting a routine forehand on the second.

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Oh dear, oh dear.

A serve and volley attempt doesn't come off for 15-30 before Novak Djokovic hunts down a drop shot and comes up with a backhand winner.

Two break points. This could be over in a flash.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard received some attention to his right wrist at the end of the third set.

Can he turn this around?

The crowd is still vocal in support of their home hopeful, cheering a forehand winner for 15-all.

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Novak Djokovic steps aside and lets Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard's looping forehand fly long.

He gets the third set done and dusted in 22 minutes.

Novak Djokovic is in a hurry. Three set points.

Novak Djokovic's kids jump up and down in delight after Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard sends a forehand beyond the baseline.

They'll now watch their dad try to serve out the set.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard picks up a bit of pace on serve but Novak Djokovic is right back in this match and is making things difficult for the Frenchman. A booming winner down the line from the Serb followed by a Mpetshi Perricard mishit brings up another break point.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

Clinical, putting down the hammer, not wasting any time - and that in itself helps build pressure on your opponent.

From being so close to potentially taking a two-set lead, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is now suddenly sitting down at his change of ends wondering what on earth has happened.

That is the level these top players can keep on bringing.

The third set could be over very quickly. Novak Djokovic is on a roll on serve, with a backhand down the line securing another love hold.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard looks like he's ran out of steam.

The French crowd have quietened down a tad.

Better from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard as he makes moves to the net and dinks over a couple of shots that Novak Djokovic has no hope of getting too.

Another superb volley at the fence get him on the board in this third set.

Easy peasy for Novak Djokovic, who seals the hold with a delicate drop shot. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard didn't even bother moving for that one.

The French player calls for the trainer as he continues to stretch out his thumb. He has been nursing a wrist injury in recent weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

How things can change! After looking so confident early on, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard looks tired as he swats the ball into the net.

This isn't looking good for the young Frenchman. He's started to hold his wrist and stretch his thumb.

Deary me. A double fault from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard hands Novak Djokovic two break points.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard works his way to the net, but Novak Djokovic holds firm and the Frenchman can't find a way through.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion goes 0-30 up and opens up a half-chance for himself to break early in this third set.

Novak Djokovic didn't have to work too hard for that service hold. A few wild shots from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard see the Serb through.