PARIS — Novak Djokovic skilled the bottom of lows — pulling out of the French Open after tearing the meniscus in his proper knee — and the best of highs — successful a long-sought Olympic gold medal for Serbia — at Roland-Garros final yr. This journey to the location went easily, as soon as he received going.
Apart from some first-set interruptions by, and prolonged discussions about, the windy, moist climate, the 24-time main champion was unbothered throughout a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 98th-ranked Mackie McDonald of the US at Courtroom Philippe-Chatrier within the first spherical.
“He makes it appear to be a online game, virtually, for him,” stated McDonald, a 30-year-old Californian who performed school tennis at UCLA and twice has been to the fourth spherical at Grand Slam tournaments. “He’s in a position to simply achieve this a lot. I don’t even suppose he was taking part in his greatest tennis or his highest stage. But when I pushed him to a special level, he would carry it up.”
One instance: When McDonald earned his first break factors, attending to love-40 at 3-2 within the second set, Djokovic got here up with three massive serves, a 120 mph (193 kph) ace, a 123 mph (199 kph) ace and a 122 mph (197 kph) service winner.
Djokovic compiled 32 winners — 18 greater than McDonald — and simply 20 unforced errors in a match that ultimately was performed with the lights on and the retractable roof closed.
“I’m a competitor, and shedding stings,” McDonald stated, “however taking part in Novak on that courtroom is one thing I’ll keep in mind.”
Earlier than Djokovic, who simply turned 38 and received his one hundredth profession title final weekend, walked onto the taking part in floor, he was recognized by the stadium announcer by his complete variety of Slam trophies, the three he is received on the French Open, and the Summer season Video games gold he received “right here in Paris.”
“I nonetheless keep in mind final yr’s Olympic Video games. It was the final time I used to be right here,” Djokovic stated afterward. “The emotion may be very sturdy.”
The medal meaning a lot to him?
“I don’t have the medal with me. However I’ve an image of the medal in my bag,” he stated. “The medal is with my father. My dad likes trophies greater than I do, so I gave him mine.”
What else occurred on the French Open on Tuesday?
As soon as Coco Gauff discovered her rackets — a comparatively vital piece of kit for a tennis participant — all was nicely for her within the first spherical. Gauff confirmed up on courtroom, opened her bag and peered inside to seek out it was lacking her rackets. The beginning of the warmup was delayed, however then the whole lot went Gauff’s approach, and the 2023 U.S. Open champion received previous Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2. Unseeded American Alycia Parks, ranked 52nd on the earth, beat No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 within the girls’s final match of the day. Muchova was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros in 2023. Different winners included the No. 3 seeds, Jessica Pegula and Alexander Zverev, and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, however 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded eleventh, misplaced to Cam Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 throughout practically 4 hours. Different seeded males had been despatched house when 18-year-old João Fonseca dispatched No. 30 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and when No. 16 Grigor Dimitrov give up whereas main American qualifier Ethan Quinn two units to at least one. That is the fourth consecutive main event at which Dimitrov retired.
Frenchman Gael Monfils Advances
Frenchman Gael Monfils rallied from two units down and beat Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) 6-1, in a match that lasted greater than three hours.
Monfils was injured on the fifth level of the match when he fell and crashed right into a aspect billboard. The 38-year-old Monfils was shifting to his proper as he returned a shot into the online. He scraped his palms attempting to interrupt his fall and required a couple of minutes of medical therapy earlier than play resumed.
Monfils, ranked forty second on the earth and with a historical past of proper knee and leg accidents, was a degree away from breaking the Ninetieth-ranked Dellien’s serve and ended up shedding the sport and going behind 3-0 within the first set.
After dropping the second set, Monfils battled again and, helped by a 19-2 benefit in aces, superior to the second spherical.
Who’s taking part in at Roland-Garros on Wednesday?
The second spherical begins on Day 4, with a schedule that features defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini and two-time finalist Casper Ruud. Swiatek meets 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu within the day session’s final match in the principle stadium.
