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Source: ESPN
Djokovic cruises in French Open first round
Serbia's Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to US Aleksandar Kovacevic (not in photograph) during their men's singles match on day two of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Monday. Agency photo
Agency :
Novak Djokovic launched his quest for a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam singles title with a 6-3 6-2 7-6(1) victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic in the French Open first round. World number one Carlos Alcaraz also came through with flying colours as the Spaniard crushed Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli 6-0 6-2 7-5 in his first Grand Slam match since winning the US Open title last year.
Twice Roland Garros champion Djokovic breezed through the first two sets before encountering resistance from the 24-year-old American. He ended the contest with a sizzling service return on his first match point and will take on Hungarian journeyman Marton Fucsovics for a place in the third round. “It’s always a pleasure to come back here, one of the best tournaments in the world,” said Djokovic, who made his Roland Garros debut in 2005.
“I’m very motivated to go far here, all the way I hope.”
Jannik Sinner closed out the night session with a dominant win as the eighth seed downed Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-4 6-1 to book a clash with Daniel Altmaier.
Dominic Thiem took his main draw spot after the withdrawal of 14-times champion Rafa Nadal – his conqueror in the 2018 and 2019 finals but the injury-plagued Austrian fell to Argentine Pedro Cachin who won 6-3 6-2 6-7(1) 4-6 6-2.
