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regular-article-logo Saturday, 11 May 2024

French Open: Novak Djokovic breezes through third round with clinical win

Roger Federer lost his trademark cool but found some vintage tennis as he beat Marin Cilic to move into the third round

Agencies Paris Published 04.06.21, 01:40 AM
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic File picture

World No.1 Novak Djokovic put on a clinical display to stroll past Uruguyan Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday and reach the third round of the French Open.

Cuevas, ranked 92nd, showed flashes of resistance against the 34-year-old Serbian but the top seed raised his game when he needed to.

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Roger Federer lost his trademark cool but found some vintage tennis as he beat Marin Cilic 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to move into the third round.

The 39-year-old Swiss brushed Cilic aside in a one-sided first set but lost the second after a heated debate with the chair umpire over the time he was taking to towel down. He, however, regained composure and control of the match.

World No.2 Daniil Medvedev overcame a slow start to beat unseeded American Tommy Paul 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. French Gael Monfils struggled for rhythm as he lost 0-6, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6 to Mikael Ymer.

Injured Barty out

Women’s world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty retired from her second round match against Poland’s Magda Linette with an injury.

The 2019 champion, who was trailing 1-6, 2-2, started the second-round match with taping on her left thigh.

World No.6 Elina Svitolina said she has turned to psychology to help her on court after her 6-0, 6-4 victory over American Ann Li.

Svitolina revealed she has signed up for online psychology courses in a bid to cope with the drastic changes in a professional athlete’s lifestyle in a Covid-19 world.

“I think it’s very important, especially these days with all that’s happening with Covid-19, with all the restrictions that we get,” she said.

Last year’s runner-up Sofia Kenin eased into the third round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over fellow-American Hailey Baptiste. Sloane Stephens claimed her first win over a top-10 opponent since 2018, defeating world No.10 Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-1.

Coco Gauff reached the third round for the first time as the 17-year-old American battled past China’s Wang Qiang 6-3, 7-6 (7-1).

Bopanna advances

In the men’s doubles, India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Croatian partner Franko Skugor advanced to the pre-quarter finals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Americans Frances Tiafo and Nicholas Monroe.

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