NOVAK DJOKOVIC survived a big scare and the disapproval of an umpire to edge into the fourth round.
Djokovic lost a first serve for his second time violation and then blew his top when called for unsportsmanlike conduct by Carlos Ramos during the fourth set of his five-set win over Diego Schwartzman.
But the defending champion lived to fight and rage another day with a 5-7 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-1 victory.
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Djokovic said: “I expected a difficult match with a lot of baseline rallies because the conditions are very heavy.
“I’d like to congratulate him for a great battle because he played very, very well.”
Things looked tough for Djokovic when he failed to convert three break points as world No 41 Schwartzman served for the third set.
He roared back in the fourth, though, despite dropping serve in the controversial game which was delayed as he demanded of Ramos: “What did I say?”
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A shoulder problem appeared to prevent Schwartzman making a contest of the decider.
Earlier in the day, Djokovic’s coaching consultant Andre Agassi revealed he would try to find time to work with the Serb at Wimbledon – if asked.
Agassi is due to go home this weekend after spending a week working with Djokovic.
But the former world No 1 told Boris Becker, who was Djokovic’s last head coach, in a Eurosport interview: “If he wants me there (at Wimbledon) I will come and figure it out.
“There’s a lot of responsibility so whatever’s practical and achievable 100% I will make the effort.”
Agassi revealed how Djokovic had contacted him out of the blue and how his wife, fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf, had persuaded him to give coaching a go.
Agassi said: “Surprise for me, I got a call from him late in Monte Carlo after he was done and he wanted to talk tennis and he wanted to talk about the possibility of working.
“I said listen: ‘I can help you over the phone, I don’t think you need much and this is not possible for me with the balance of my life.’
“And then Steffi says, ‘Maybe, maybe you’ll enjoy it’ and I respect her so much I said ok I’ll go to Paris early since I have to be there anyway and I’ll just get to know him.
“He’s a very inspirational guy for me and for me this is something I do on my own time and I do it on my own dime. I don’t want anything out of this, I want to help him. And it helps the game – him at his best is good for the game and it’s a way I can contribute hopefully.”
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