Djokovic off to winning start
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Thiemo De Bakker of the Netherlands during the French Open at Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Monday, Djokovic won 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. Thierry Roge / Reuters |
Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten record in 2011 to 38 wins on Monday with a straight sets dismissal of hapless Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker in the first round of the French Open.
One day after his 24th birthday, the red-hot, world No 2 Serb saw off his 71st-ranked opponent 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 as he began his campaign to win a first Roland Garros title in impressive style.
Djokovic, who is likely to depose Rafael Nadal as world No 1 by the end of the tournament, is also favorite to snatch the Spaniard's French Open title, having seen off his rival in the Madrid and Rome claycourt finals.
Djokovic's win on Monday took him to within four victories of equaling John McEnroe's 1984 record for a winning season start of 42 triumphs.
He needed just 92 minutes to see of De Bakker, who made the third round last year but came into Roland Garros having won just three times all year.
"It's my favorite Grand Slam, even though I haven't won it yet," said Djokovic, a semifinalist in 2007 and 2008.
"I've been playing really well on clay. I've won three (claycourt) tournaments (Belgrade, Madrid and Rome) in the last few weeks, so I'm trying to build on that confidence," added Djokovic, whose complete winning streak has now reached 40 matches, stretching back to Serbia's Davis Cup triumph in December.
Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, who has seven titles under his belt already this year, will play either French wild card Benoit Paire or Romania's Victor Hanescu for a place in the last 32.
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, a former US Open champion and a semifinalist here in 2009, overcame a first-set blip to defeat big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.
Del Potro, who was a doubt for the tournament because of a hip injury, having missed the 2010 event due to wrist surgery, claimed a 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win.
The 25th-seeded Del Potro, who hit 21 unforced errors to Karlovic's 42, will face Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic for a third-round place.
No sweat for Schiavone
Defending champion Francesca Schiavone also swept into the French Open second round on Monday.
Fifth seed Schiavone, who last year became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam, beat American 19-year-old Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-0 and will meet Russian Vesna Dolonts in round two.
"I'm still shaking a little bit," said Schiavone, after returning to Court Philippe Chatrier, the scene of her emotional victory over Australia's Samantha Stosur in last year's final.
"There was a lot of adrenaline. I felt really happy to be there.
"That court is fantastic because it's compact and the court is perfect. It goes all around you.
"It's like when you go home and your mum does everything for you and you feel comfortable. I felt like this, but with a lot of adrenaline.
"I was excited to be there at 11 o'clock on center court."
Russian third seed Vera Zvonareva, a losing finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010, joined Schiavone in the second round when she overcame Spanish veteran Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-3, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Elsewhere, Slovakian 28th seed Daniela Hantuchova and Italy's No 30 seed Roberta Vinci overcame potential banana skins to take their places in round two.
Hantuchova beat China's Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-3, while Vinci edged countrywoman Alberta Brianti in a three-set contest, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
There was no such joy, however, for Russian 26th seed Nadia Petrova, who went down 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 to Australia's Anastasia Rodionova.
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