PARIS (AP) — Being such a perfectionist, Novak Djokovic is not quite happy with his French. His play? That's a different story.
After reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for a men's-record 12th consecutive year with another easy win Saturday, the 18-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia was doing rather well speaking French until he was asked to get a bit more technical and talk about the playing conditions, then his next opponent.
"Sorry, I am trying to learn more words," the No. 1-ranked player said with a self-depreciating smile as he fumbled a bit for more specific vocabulary. "I have used up 90% of my French."
Courtside interviewer Cedric Pioline encouraged him, and so Djokovic obliged.
"The conditions were different. How do you say in French?" Djokovic said, this time truly lost for words.