Khaleej Times

Easy for Novak, Rafa

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paris — Record nine-time champion Rafael Nadal marched into the French Open third round after crushing Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday.

The Spaniard is bidding to become the first man to win 10 titles at a single Grand Slam event and will play Nikoloz Basilashvi­li of Georgia for a place in the last 16.

Andre Agassi was in the stands on Wednesday as his new charge Novak Djokovic romped to a second-round win.

Almost as many cameras were trained on the U.S. tennis star as were trained on Djokovic throughout the latter’s 6-1 6-4 6-3 dismantlin­g of Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

Reigning champion Djokovic teamed up with 1999 champion Agassi in a dream-team playercoac­h combinatio­n just before the start of the tournament.

Already the signs were good on Court Suzanne Lenglen. There was a spring in the step of the world number two that had seemed missing in recent months.

Djokovic looked every bit a champion as he controlled his opponent throughout, with Agassi closely monitoring from courtside, a look of concern occasional­ly clouding his mien.

He next meets Argentine Diego Schwartzma­n in the third round.

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza had to claw her way back from a set down to survive a scare from talented Anett Kontaveit and move into the third round with a 6-7 6-4 6-2 win.— AFP/Reuters

 ?? — Reuters ?? Novak Djokovic during his second round win over Joao Sousa at the French Open on Wednesday.
— Reuters Novak Djokovic during his second round win over Joao Sousa at the French Open on Wednesday.

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