Djokovic breezes into third round
PARIS — At the mere mention of Novak Djokovic’s name, at the mere thought of sharing a court with a 17-time Grand Slam champion and the French Open’s No. 1-seeded man, Daniel Elahi Galan broke into a wide smile Thursday.
He used these phrases: “really, really excited” and “really, really happy” and “really, really special.” record.
Galan is, after all, ranked “I have a very complex
153rd and never had won so game. I can do many things much as one main-draw on court,” said Bara, who is match at any major tournamaking her Grand Slam ment until this week. Makdebut, “and I hope I will ing this run to the third bother her with that.” round even more improbMaybe all of the success able: The 24-year-old from for those who haven’t done Colombia lost in qualifying it before is due to this being at Roland Garros and only as unusual a French Open got into the bracket when as there’s ever been: shifted other men withdrew from from May-June to Septemthe field. ber-October because of the
So, sure, it was a big deal coronavirus pandemic; for Galan to beat Tennys from its position deep in the Sandgren 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on European clay-court circuit Thursday. And, to be sure, to two weeks after the harda bigger deal to contemplate court U.S. Open’s concluSaturday, when he will face sion; played amid autumn’s Djokovic, who has dropped cold temperatures and rain, a total of 10 games through although the sun and blue two matches so far after sky made appearances overwhelming Ricardas Thursday; just 1,000 spectaBerankis 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 — and tors allowed on-site each day.issomeoneGalanhasspotted in the locker room but Whatever the case, it’s never spoken to. instructive to remember
It’s the sort of David vs. that occasionally, of course, Goliath matchup that hapthe stone finds its mark. pens often in tennis but is Which perhaps is why in particular abundance this was Galan’s philosophy this year in Paris. as he looked ahead: “Just
Galan is one of nine men try to win. Just give it all ranked outside the top 100 you have. And that’s it. At into the third round, equalthe end of the day, it’s just ing the most at any Grand another match.”
Slam tournament in more So the obvious question: than a quarter-century How do you, as the owner (Wimbledon in 1994); the of two career Grand Slam last time there were as match victories, maintain many as nine at Roland sufficient self-belief and Garros was 1985. hope ahead of facing Djo
There were some unfairkovic, whose 292 wins at on-paper matchups estabmajors include 70 at the lished Thursday by the French Open alone? women, too. “Well,” came Galan’s
Australian Open champireply, “I was wondering on Sofia Kenin, who is seedthat, to be honest.” ed fourth, will face 105thAnd then he launched ranked qualifier Irina Bara. into a story about how he Two-time Wimbledon winwas “really, really nervous” ner Petra Kvitova next before playing former top meets 100th-ranked Cana10-member David Goffin in dian teen Leylah Fernanthe Davis Cup Finals last dez. Jelena Ostapenko, the November.
2017 French Open champ, “He is Goffin, a guy you plays 87th-ranked Paula see on TV all the time. And Badosa, who arrived in I just went on the court and Paris with a 1-5 Grand Slam I was just expecting him to play unbelievable and maybe he will beat me so easy,” Galan recalled. “But at the end of the day, they are, like, human. They also make mistakes. And also they get mad. They are also trying the best they can. And that’s it.”
Which sounded inspiring and meaningful … until a quick inspection of the result revealed that he lost to Goffin.
At least Galan has this going for him: For as much as he has been able to study Djokovic over the years — “A lot; a lot; he’s always on TV; always on the center court; always in the finals” — the reverse is not the case.
“I don’t know much about him, to be honest. I have never seen him play, so I’ll have to obviously look at his matches, the videos, and try to prepare myself with my team,” said Djokovic, who won the French Open in 2016 to complete his career Grand Slam.
“He doesn’t have much to lose,“said Djokovic, who does not lose too much, 33-1 thus far in 2020. “It’s always dangerous facing opponents you never faced before. On the big stadium, they can really relax and play their best tennis of their lives. Or it can go a different way. I have to be alert and prepare myself well.”
The 66th-ranked Berankis, now 0-3 against Djokovic, was asked what advice he would offer Galan.
Instead of discussing any strategic tips, Berankis mentioned mindset.
“With such a great, huge player, you know, ATP No. 1, having crazy amount of Grand Slams in his pocket, ATP tournaments — like one of the best ever — the advice would be not to play the results that he has. Just play the player who is on the court,” Berankis said. “From my own experience … the most important is how you can perform during this day, not what happened in last 10, 15 years with your opponent, you know? So, yeah, (don’t) panic. Play your game. And see how it goes.”