Nole won his opening match at the Roland Garros in Paris on Monday.
No.20 seed and 2016 champion Novak Djokovic captured his 60th match win at the French Open, defeating Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and five minutes.
Novak got off to a slow start on Philippe-Chatrier Court, but rebounded with a solid first round performance to advance. Djokovic rallied from a break deficit in the first and second sets. After falling 0-2 behind, the 31-year-old Serbian star managed to break his hard-hitting rival twice in both sets and grabbed a 4-2 lead in the third. The Brazilian fought back to level at 4-all, but Nole used his opportunity in the ninth game, converted another break point and served it out to reach the second round.
“I’m still a bit rusty on the court and I need to improve. Hopefully the level will increase when the matches go on. Maybe I was too flat and relaxed. You don’t always feel your best, but you try to get your best out of it,” Novak said in a post-match interview.
Match statistics: aces (6-4), double faults (1-5), winners (37-21), unforced errors (36-32), total points won (106-80).
Novak will play world no.155 Jaume Munar on Wednesday. The Spanish qualifier beat his compatriot David Ferrer after a five-set battle (3-6, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5).
It will be the first career meeting between the two.
Photo: Profimedia
