Pliskova survives Sherif; Djokovic cruises
PARIS — Second seed Karolina Pliskova survived a first-round scare at the French Open on Tuesday with a 6-7 (9-11), 6-2, 6-4 victory against Egypt’s history-making qualifier, Mayar Sherif.
Men’s fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from two sets down against Spain’s Jaime Munar to win 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 3 hours, 12 minutes to face Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the next round.
And world No. 1 Novak Djokovic raced through his first-round match with a 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 win over Sweden’s Mikael Ymer.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion needed just 54 minutes to secure a two-set lead and secured his place in the next round with a forehand winner.
“Winning six-love first set is the best possible way to start a Grand Slam,” said the top-seeded Djokovic.
“This is exactly what my intentions will be, trying to get off the blocks very strong with a good intensity.”
Canadian ninth seed Denis Shapovalov battled past Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-5, 5-7 6-3 while Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut also made it through with a 76 (7-5), 6-2, 6-1 victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Djokovic, who has one French
Open title in 2016, continues against Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, who eliminated Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien 6-1, 64, 6-4. And the 33-year-old Serb says he is prepared for another title run.
“2016 was a dream come true,” Djokovic said of his only clay major.
“I’m ready physically, mentally, emotionally to go deep in the tournament.”
Women’s fourth seed Sofia Kenin is through after the former Australian Open winner bested Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.