NOVAK SWATS SWEDE
NOVAK Djokovic was likened to a snake devouring its prey on Tuesday as his bid to become the first man in half a century to win all four Grand Slam titles twice, got off to a straightforward start at Roland Garros.
However, a “double bounce” row has prompted calls for video replays to be introduced in tennis.
World No.1 Djokovic, returning to Grand Slam action for the first time since his US Open disqualification, eased past Sweden’s world No.80 Mikael Ymer 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. It wash is 32nd win in 33 match-
es in 2020 and kept him on course for a second French Open title since his 2016 triumph, and 18th career major.
“It’s always a pleasure to return to Paris on Philippe Chatrier, this important court, ”he said.
“The atmosphere is a little different this year with few fans but I remain motivated to win the title.”
Djoko vic is one of t women to have defeated 12-time champion Rafael Nadal in 15 years in Paris.
The33-year-old top seed is in the second round for a record-equalling 16th time, matching Guillermo Vilas and Nadal.
Djokovic, who suffered no immediate hang over from his US Open controversy by quickly wrapping up a record 36 th Masters title in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros, next faces Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis.
Ymer, making just his fourth main draw appearance at a major, graphically summed up the challenge of facing Djokovic.
“It felt like when a snake kills its prey ,” said 22- year-old Ymer. “I had chances to rally but then I got suffocated .”
Russia’s Andrey Rublev, the 13th seed who won the Hamburg title just two days ago, staged a remarkable recovery from two sets and 3-5 down in the third to beat Sam Querrey of the US 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the runner-up in Hamburg, needed five sets to make the second round, beating Spain’ s J au me Mu nar 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Kristina Mladenovic called for a football-style VAR system to be introduced in tennis after her opponent profited from a double bounce to help knock the Frenchwoman out of her home Grand Slam.
Mladenovic was 5-1 up and with a set point against Laura Siege mund when the German scooped a winner despite the ball appearing to bounce twice. The incident was missed by chair umpire Eva Asderaki.
World number 44 Mladenovic pleaded in vain but Siegemund raced into the next round with a 7-5,6-3 win.
Second seed Karolina Pliskova ended Mayar Sherif’s fairytale Grand Slam breakthrough.