Novak Djokovic into French Open second spherical as Serb sees off large fan Kovacevic

Novak Djokovic earned a straight-set win over Aleksandar Kovacevic as he opened his marketing campaign for a 3rd French Open title. The third seed booked his spot within the second spherical with a 6-3 6-2 7-6(1) victory after long-time Djokovic fan Kovacevic stepped up his stage within the third set.

Djokovic was beginning his quest for a report twenty third Grand Slam title in opposition to a considerably acquainted face in Kovacevic. While he had by no means confronted the 24-year-old on the match courtroom, the American was a giant fan rising up – even earlier than he was a champion – and met Djokovic on a number of events.

The world No 114 was current for Djokovic’s US Open debut in 2005 and took a photograph with the then-18-year-old after he beat Gael Monfils within the opening spherical. 18 years later, Kovacevic was making his personal Grand Slam debut in opposition to the person himself. The New Yorker held his personal early on, saving a break level to attract stage at 2-2.

But he was damaged in his subsequent service sport with the two-time French Open champion taking the opening set 6-3. Djokovic put his foot on the fuel in set quantity two as he broke Kovacevic twice and took it 6-2, dropping simply 4 factors on his serve.

The third seed broke within the first sport of the third set and there was some drama because the let machine saved going off. It prompted Djokovic to method the chair umpire. “I can’t overrule when it goes off,” the official stated, because the Serb responded: “But can you check the machine because it’s happened five times this match already.”

But he performed on and was in a position to maintain after saving three break factors – the primary probabilities Kovacevic created all match. The American had stepped issues up and was lastly in a position to break the Djokovic serve for the primary time, drawing stage at 3-3. The 36-year-old broke again instantly and the third set grew to become a sport of cat-and-mouse as Djokovic was then damaged whereas serving for the match.

After dropping three video games in a row, Djokovic held to ship the set right into a tiebreak. The two-time French Open champion regained management within the breaker, main 5-1 on the changeover with two mini-breaks. And he did not drop one other level, lastly closing out a straight-set victory to get his Roland Garros marketing campaign off to a successful begin.