PARIS, (Reuters) – Former world number one Novak Djokovic launched his French Open campaign with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 6-4 first-round victory over Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva yesterday.
The 31-year-old Serb, seeded 20th, went behind at the start of the first two sets but recovered well to overcome world number 134 Dutra Silva.
Djokovic, who has not won a grand slam since his victory at Roland Garros in 2016, will face Spain’s Jaume Munar in the second round.
Another former champion Stan Wawrinka, who has struggled with a persistent knee injury, was beaten 6-2 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 6-3 by big-hitting Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
World number one Rafa Nadal, chasing a record-extending 11th French Open title, took a two-set lead but was a break down in the third against Italian Simone Bolelli before rain halted play.
The pair will return today with Nadal leading 6-4 6-3 0-3.
In the women’s draw, world number two Caroline Wozniacki overcame a slow start to beat American Danielle Collins 7-6(2) 6-1.
Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova came back from a set down to beat Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg 3-6 6-1 7-5.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka struggled for rhythm in a 7-5 7-5 defeat by Czech Katerina Siniakova in the first round.
The 28-year-old Belarusian, who reached the semi-finals in 2013, committed 38 unforced errors in her first match at Roland Garros in two years.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka fired 10 aces on her way to a 6-2 7-5 first-round victory over American Sofia Kenin. The 21st seed will next face Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan.
Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis suffered an emotional meltdown after he retired hurt against Santiago Giraldo of Colombia in the first round.
Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open finalist, was leading 6-3 4-3 when he struggled to move on court before asking for a medical timeout. The 32-year-old broke down in tears and went on to smash his racket while waiting for the physiotherapist to arrive.
After losing the first two points on his serve in the eighth game, Baghdatis decided to pull the plug on his campaign.
Seventh seed Dominic Thiem, who lifted his second title of the season in Lyon last week, raced to a 6-2 6-4 6-1 victory over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.
The two-time French Open semi-finalist will next face promising Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The 1,000km road trip from Barcelona to Paris was well worth it for Marco Trungelliti, who overcame Australia’s Bernard Tomic 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the opening round and guaranteed himself a massive payday.
The International Tennis Federation are looking for a clarification from the Grand Slam Board on the rules for prize money distribution, but said the Argentine lucky loser will at least get 79,000 euros ($91,758) for reaching the second round.
($1 = 0.8610 euros)
