Novak Djokovic got his tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title off to a solid start on Tuesday as the Serb beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the French Open.
Fresh off claiming his 100th tour title at Geneva last weekend, Djokovic booked his place in the round of 64 at Roland Garros with a straight-sets win over his 98th-ranked American opponent in under two hours.
The only hiccup for the 38-year-old sixth seed was his failure to serve out the second set at 5-2, but Djokovic swiftly remedied his error by breaking McDonald to 15.
“I don’t know how many more Grand Slams I’ve got left in my body,” Djokovic told Court Philippe Chatrier after his win. “I’m just trying to enjoy every moment in this magnificent stadium,” he added.
The three-time Roland Garros champion will face the winner of the all-French clash between Corentin Moutet and Clement Tabur in the
second round.
No. 11 Medvedev stunned
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev was the most high-profile casualty on the second day of the tournament. The World No. 11 went down 5-7 3-6 6-4 6-1 5-7 to Britain’s Cameron Norrie in a grueling five-set match.
“I felt that he was a little tentative but honestly, it was a crazy match. I think I deserve a diploma for beating Medvedev because he’s beaten me the last four times.,” said Norrie.
The Briton will face Argentine Federico Gomez for a place in the third round.
In another men’s first round match, World No. 3 Alexander Zverev saw off American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. His next opponent is Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
Clinical Gauff
Meanwhile, American World No. 2 Coco Gauff dispatched Australia’s Olivia Gadecki in straight sets to get her campaign off to a confident start.
Second seed Gauff won 6-2, 6-2 against 91st-ranked Gadecki. Gauff next meets either France’ Chloe Paquet or Czech qualifier Tereza Valentova.
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