Djokovic ups play to dismantle Carballes Baena
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was briefly made to work hard by unseeded Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena before sealing a routine 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory and motoring into the French Open third round.
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Defending champion Novak Djokovic was briefly made to work hard by unseeded Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena before sealing a routine 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory and motoring into the French Open third round on Thursday.
Djokovic hasn't been at his convincing best in an erratic season, and the No. 1 seed from Serbia was dragged into a battle in the first set by Carballes Baena after recovering an early break.
Having nosed ahead on serve in the ninth game, Djokovic, 37, set up a break point with a big overhead smash after a 24-shot rally and pounced to take the first set as spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier sensed a return to a more familiar level.
"There's always conviction and belief inside of me that I can win a Grand Slam," Djokovic said. "That's the reason I'm still competing at this level. That's why I'm here. At this age I wouldn't be competing at the Grand Slams and continuing to play professional tennis if I didn't believe I possess quality to go all the way to the title match.
"I still of course sense that I have the game and I have the goods to go far."
Djokovic moved up a few notches in the next set for a 4-0 lead before Carballes Baena, 31, even got on the board.
The pair's previous two encounters were both at hard-court majors, but the outcome was no different on clay as Djokovic jumped ahead 5-1 in the third set and wrapped up the victory.
After the match, Djokovic addressed his motivation as he bids for a record 25th Grand Slam title but also has gone through 2024 so far without a title. He said he knows he might have off weeks but that his process isn't changing.
"In terms of my commitment to the practice weeks and practice sessions, that hasn't gone down, to be honest," he said. "I really, you know, whatever my team and I agree on and whatever they want me to do, I do it. I show up every day on practice courts and gym and whatever I need to do fitness-wise, mental preparation, whatever it takes."
Djokovic said his mindset has become sharper, though.
"I'm focused pretty much solely on Grand Slams and Olympics this year, and playing for my country, really," he said. "That's something that really drives me the most. ... But yeah, it is becoming a little bit more challenging for me to push myself every single tournament to be really at the top."
Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev also reached the third round after his opponent, Miomir Kecmanovic, retired while trailing 6-1, 5-0. The Serbian player decided to quit the match after 55 minutes of play.
Three days after defeating Rafael Nadal, No. 4 Alexander Zverev beat David Goffin 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
"The crowd is always unbelievable in Paris. Since we got the two new roofs, it's even more electric," Zverev said. "When you guys are rooting for me, it's even better."
Zverev will next face Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated Luciano Darderi 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-3.
Men's seeds who bowed out included No. 25 Frances Tiafoe and No. 31 Mariano Navone. A frosty handshake came when Tiafoe and Denis Shapovalov -- who are friends -- met at the net after Shapovalov's 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win. That's because Tiafoe sent a tennis ball off the side of Shapovalov's head with one on-the-run shot.
"I wasn't happy with it. But it's tennis, so you can do what you want," said Shapovalov, who joined Felix Auger-Aliassime to give Canada two men in the third round at Roland Garros for the first time in the Open era, which began in 1968. "Look, I'm sure we'll be fine in a couple days. Obviously, (in the) heat of the moment, it's not fun. But we'll get through it."
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov are among the players who originally were supposed to complete their second-rounders Wednesday. Because they didn't get done until Thursday, on account of the weather, they need to get back on court Friday for the third round.
Meanwhile, No. 8 seed Hubert Hurkacz bounced back from a shaky start to beat American Brandon Nakashima 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the second round. The match, originally scheduled for Wednesday, had multiple rain interruptions.
No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov crushed Fabian Marozsan 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round as matches on outer courts and Court Simonne Mathieu resumed after rain had stopped play. Sebastian Ofner fought back from two sets down to beat No. 20 Sebastian Baez 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in a thrilling second-round battle that lasted 4 hours, 13 minutes.
ESPN's D'Arcy Maine, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Wolves Back? The Biggest Keys To Game 5 Of The West Finals
