Day Five Preview: Djokovic and Sabalenka Return in Full Force

Djokovic and Sabalenka return - day five preview

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will lead an action-filled day at the French Open on Thursday after rain disrupted days three and four.

Only matches on the two roofed courts were completed on Wednesday.

Matches on outdoor courts, including the first rounds of the men's, women's, and mixed doubles, were canceled due to the rain.

Second seed Sabalenka will start play on Court Philippe Chatrier on Thursday against Japan's Moyuka Uchijima.

World number one Djokovic will also play his second-round match on the same court against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena.

Djokovic began his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a solid 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

The 37-year-old has had a rough season, not reaching a final, while his world number one ranking is threatened by Italy's Jannik Sinner.

The Australian Open champion will become number one if Djokovic is knocked out before the semi-finals.

"I felt better compared to the previous weeks. I'm moving in the right direction," Djokovic said after Tuesday's first-round win.

"But it's only the beginning. It's only one match. We have to see how I will progress in the tournament, how my feelings will evolve."

Serbia's Djokovic has a 2-0 record over Carballes Baena, who has only reached the third round at a Grand Slam once, at Roland Garros in 2020.

In other men's matches, German sixth seed Alexander Zverev, who beat Rafael Nadal in the first round, faces Belgium's David Goffin.

Zverev, a title contender, has said a domestic abuse case will not distract him. He has denied the charges, with a hearing set for Friday in Germany.

Caption: Before last year's semi-final, Sabalenka had never gone past the third round at Roland Garros*

Sabalenka lost just three games in a 69-minute win over Russian teenager Erika Andreeva on Tuesday.

The Belarusian was ranked much higher than Andreeva, while Thursday's opponent Uchijima is ranked much lower.

Uchijima reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time with a decisive 6-1 6-1 win over fellow qualifier Irene Burillo Escorihuela of Spain.

It will be tougher against Sabalenka, though. The Australian Open winner has not lost in the second round of a major since 2020.

Meanwhile, third seed Elena Rybakina will play Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The Kazakh overcame a slow start to beat Belgium's Greet Minnen 6-2 6-3 in the first round, while Rus beat three-time major champion Angelique Kerber.

This will be the first time they meet since last year's French Open, where Rus pushed the former Wimbledon champion to three sets before losing 6-1 5-7 6-2.

If Sabalenka and Rybakina both win on Thursday, they will stay on track to meet in the semi-finals.