6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1). Novak Djokovic generally mastered his first round on the Philippe Chatrier court at Roland-Garros on Monday. The man with 22 Grand Slam titles, in doubt before the French Open, did not really shake against Aleksandar Kovacevic, 114th in the world, for his very first Grand Slam appearance.
The Serb who is apparently the idol of the 24-year-old American clearly explained to him on the Central why he is so strong in the first two rounds. And apart from a small drop in speed in the 3rd set (especially in service), with two breaks conceded, the former world number 1 dominated this back-to-school match to sign an 86th success on Parisian clay. And say loud and clear to the competition that we will obviously have to count on him during this fortnight. Which no one really doubted.
Roland-Garros: the results of the 1st round
1st round (men’s singles):
Denis Shapovalov (CAN/N.26) beat Brandon Nakashima (USA) 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3
Cameron Norrie (GBR/N.14) defeats Benoît Paire (FRA) 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Diego Schwartzman (ARG) beat Bernabe Zapata (ESP/N.32) 1-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0, 6-4
Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) beat Shang Juncheng (CHN) 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
Tomas Etcheverry (ARG) bat Jack Draper (GBR) 6-4, 1-0 (abandoned)
Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.18) bat Ilya Ivashka (BLR) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
1st round (women’s singles):
Kayla Day (USA) beat Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 7-5, 6-1
Madison Keys (USA/N.20) beat Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
Bernarda Pera (USA) beat Anett Kontaveit (EST) 7-6 (8/6), 6-2
Donna Vekic (CRO/N.22) bat Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 6-2, 7-5
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) beat Linda Fruhvirtová (CZE) 6-2, 6-2
Maria Camila Osorio (COL) bat Ana Bogdan (ROM) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Sloane Stephens (USA) beat Karolína Plísková (CZE/N.16) 6-0, 6-4
