Lookalike Ruud seeking to go in one direction at Roland Garros
The French Open continues at Roland Garros today with the second grand slam in tennis wide open in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Novak Djokovic enters the fray as he bids for a record-breaking 23rd grand slam singles title, looking to add to the French Open crowns he claimed in 2016 and 2021. With clay-court king Rafael Nadal missing this year’s tournament through injury, the 36-year-old Serbian looks to have the perfect opportunity to further cement his greatness and USA’s Aleksandar Kovacevic is his first opponent this afternoon.
Djokovic’s main contender for the men’s title appears to be young pretender Carlos Alcaraz, who has lit up the tennis world since bursting on to the scene. The 20-year-old is already a grand slam winner after claiming last year’s US Open and could dominate men’s tennis in a post-Djokovic-Nadal-Federer world. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli is his first-round opponent.
Elsewhere today, Britain’s Cameron Norrie dramatically beat home favourite Benoit Paire in five sets, while the women’s draw sees the likes of Caroline Garcia, Petra Kvitova and Jelena Ostapenko get their campaigns underway.
Follow live scores and updates from the French Open below:
Around the courts…
A few updates from elsewhere:
On Suzanne Lenglen, Elina Avanesyan and Belinda Bencic have shared the first two sets to take their match to a decider.
Stan Wawrinka and Albert Ramos Viñolas are rolling back the years, with the Swiss (three years his 35-year-old opponent’s senior) up 7-6, 6-4, 6-7 with no games yet completed in the fourth set.
Dominic Thiem’s hopes of recapturing some of his best form appear faint, though – the Austrian is a set and a break down against Pedro Cachin.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:35
Novak Djokovic beats Aleksandar Kovacevic
Marton Fucsovics is next up for Djokovic in the second round – the Hungarian has never beaten the 22-time Grand Slam winner, but has shown glimpses of good form at both the Australian and Italian Open this season.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:28
Novak Djokovic through to second round
A howitzer of a forehand flies by Aleksandar Kovacevic and that’s that – Novak Djokovic is through! 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
A valiant effort from the young American, who has plenty more days like this to come, you’d have to say. But the final result was never in doubt.
(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:19
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 (3-0) Aleksandar Kovacevic
Big match Djokovic re-emerges, getting a mini-break and then slamming down two fierce first serves to build his lead.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:14
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 6-6 Aleksandar Kovacevic
Tie break time, which looked unlikely about 15 minutes ago. Can the American take us deeper?
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:12
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-6 Aleksandar Kovacevic
A slight wobble at 40-0 but Kovacevic is ahead in the third set for the first time. Djokovic, still rubbing at those irritated eyes, will serve to try and force a tie-break.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:07
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-5 Aleksandar Kovacevic
Ooh, hello! Djokovic has just been disturbed here, wiping dust and sweat from his eyes and then ceding two points rather easily to given Kovacevic the chance to prolong the encounter.
Break point one. Thumping exchange of forehands…into the net! Kovacevic breaks!
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:03
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-4 Aleksandar Kovacevic
Novak Djokovic is twice forced to pause, first by the rather gusty wind that is beginning to sweep quite large amounts of the fine clay across the Philippe-Chatrier surface, and then to retrieve a replacement racquet after his strings go at 0-15.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 15:00
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-4 Aleksandar Kovacevic
A few whistles of delight from the crowd as Aleksandar Kovacevic holds what may well be his final service game.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 14:57
Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 5-3 Aleksandar Kovacevic
Make that one game away. A hold to love.
Harry Latham-Coyle29 May 2023 14:53
