Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Other Sports

Easy for Djokovic, but Tsitsipas, Pliskova and Kenin made to work in Paris

It was all too easy for Novak Djokovic to reach the second round at Roland Garros.  This year's ...



Easy for Djokovic, but Tsitsip...
Other Sports

Easy for Djokovic, but Tsitsipas, Pliskova and Kenin made to work in Paris

It was all too easy for Novak Djokovic to reach the second round at Roland Garros. 

This year's top seed needed just 98 minutes to dispatch world no.80 Mikael Ymer 6-0, 6-2, 6-3.

 

Djokovic is a man in form, having won a sixth win in Rome prior to his arrival in Paris.

Tuesday's match was played under the new roof on the Philippe Chatrier Court, something to which the Serb is still acclimatising, "Obviously these conditions are different than what we are used to here at Roland Garros.

"I think it's quite suitable to my style of the game, I actually enjoyed myself on the court today.

"I think I played really well. A few hiccups here and there, but I think generally the game is there.

"I'm ready physically, mentally, emotionally to go deep in the tournament. Hopefully I can have another successful year here in Paris."

Waiting for Djokovic in the second round is Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania.

Stefanos Tsitsipas will end day 3 wishing he'd had things as easy as the world no.1.

This year's 5th seed had to come from two-sets down to beat Spain's Jaume Munar. Tsitsipas will play a former French Open doubles champion in round 2, the experienced Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.

Women's second seed Karolina Pliskova lost the first set of her 1st round match to the Egyptian qualifier, Mayar Sherif.

The 2017 semi-finalist at Roland Garros eventually prevailed in three sets, but was not happy about her performance.

"Let's not talk about my level," Pliskova said after the match, "I think there is big room for improvement, but it is what it is and I'm in the next round, which counts."

Pliskova had to retire from the tournament in Rome due to a thigh injury, something she says is still not 100 per cent.

Her task will only get harder in round 2, where she'll face the 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza.

Another made to work for their second round spot was the women's 4th seed Sofia Kenin. She appeared in control in taking the first set 6-4 from Liudmila Samsonova.

But the Russian took the second, before Kenin won out 6-3 in the third. She'll play Ana Bogdan next.

There were also wins today for 2018 finalist Sloane Stephens, 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko and 14th seed Elena Rybakina.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

French Open Garbine Muguruza Karolina Pliskova Mikael Ymer Novak Djokovic Sloane Stephens Sofia Kenin Stefanos Tsitsipas Tennis