Djokovic eyes French Open final against Nadal as clay begins
Roberto Bautista Agut or John Millman of Australia, having not lost to them. Djokovic’s opponent is Taro Daniel of Japan or Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who has lost eight of 10 matches against Djokovic but beat him at Indian Wells.
After winning the Australian Open, Djokovic had a blip few saw coming when he failed to reach the quarterfinals at both Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
He has already shrugged off those losses, or at least slotted them into perspective.
“I was disappointed, because I thought I could go far. But at the same time I’ll try to look on the positive side,” the 31-year-old Djokovic said. “I’ve had great form the past 12 months. That can serve only as an incentive.”
In opening first-round play Sunday, there were wins for three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, ninth-seeded Borna Coric of Croatia, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Argentine Guido Pella.
Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 win against Lucas Pouille – who has lost all his matches since being crushed by Djokovic in the Australian Open semis.
Coric beat Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in damp and overcast conditions on the French Riviera, with heavy rain interrupting play early in the afternoon.
Dimitrov won 7-5, 6-4 against Matteo Berrettini, while Pella beat Laslo Djere 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 and next plays seventh-seeded Marin Cilic.