[ad_1]
Paris : Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic kickstarted his French Open title defence with a hard-fought, difficult victory over French participant Pierre-Hugues Herbert within the first spherical on Tuesday evening.
Djokovic, nonetheless trying to find his greatest type, defeated the house favorite 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 to start out his marketing campaign. Herbert’s heavy kick serve and opulent contact virtually bought the very best of Djokovic, till the multi-time grand slam champion bounced again within the tie-break and gained. After a drop shot-volley combo that helped Djokovic safe a 3-0 lead in the course of the tie-break, the Serbian was unstoppable and Herbert’s baseline recreation proved to be a letdown.
“Within the moments when it mattered I believe I delivered, performed an amazing tie-break, stayed targeted,” Djokovic stated in his post-match presser as quoted by ATP’s official web site.
“I’m glad that I began the best way I began, the best way I felt on the courtroom. In comparison with the earlier weeks of tournaments I performed, I felt good, and higher. So I’m shifting in a optimistic course. It’s just the start,” he added.
Djokovic should safe a spot within the title conflict not less than as a way to retain his high spot within the ATP Rankings and maintain off Jannik Sinner. His subsequent problem will probably be Roberto Carballes Baena within the second spherical.
Djokovic remains to be trying to find his first title in 2024 and improved his season stats to fifteen wins and 6 losses (general) and 7 wins and three losses (on clay surfaces). The 37-year-old made historical past by turning into the oldest French Open champion final yr and a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam title will probably be excellent for Djokovic to get his type and ongoing season on the very best observe.
This yr, Djokovic’s greatest clay courtroom runs had been in the course of the Monte Carlo and Geneva Open, the place he reached the semifinals.
Earlier, Alex de Minaur wrapped up a 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 victory in opposition to Alex Michelsen within the first spherical to kick-start his French Open 2024 marketing campaign in type on Tuesday.
After play lastly bought underway on Courtroom Simonne-Mathieu following a quick halt because of rain, the Eleventh-seeded Australian raced previous Michelsen to seal his second-round spot on the clay-court main.
De Minaur transformed eight of 13 break factors to advance to face both Jaume Munar or Roberto Bautista Agut.
Earlier within the day, Casper Ruud claimed a convincing 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory in opposition to Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves within the first spherical.
Ruud, a 12-time tour-level titlist, will lock horns with both Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or qualifier Valentin Vacherot.
Ruud, who has been a finalist in Paris the final two years, is hoping to advance this week and win his first main championship. The seventh seed has gained 36 matches so far this season on the ATP Tour, together with championship runs in Barcelona, and Geneva final week, and his first trophy above the ATP 250 degree.
[ad_2]
