Djokovic, Serena cruise in Paris

PARIS (AFP) — Top seed Novak Djokovic launched his bid for a first French Open title with a routine victory while Serena Williams began the defense of her crown, but Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber crashed out on Tuesday.

Djokovic, a three-time Roland Garros finalist, faced little resistance from Taiwan’s world number 95 Lu Yen-Hsun as he cruised to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

The Serb, bidding to become just the eighth man to secure a career Grand Slam, needed only 90 minutes on Court Phillipe Chatrier to book a second-round encounter with Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis.

“Well, second and third set were really good. I thought I found my rhythm. First set was up and down. But I’ll take the positives out of it, and I’m hoping I can progress as the tournament goes on,” said Djokovic.

Serena Williams needed just 42 minutes to dispatch Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 6-0 as the American aims for another title that would see her equal Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 Grand Slam wins.

“Today was great for me. I hope I continue to play like today, it’s only the first round. I hope I win six more matches,” said Williams, showcasing her French to an appreciate crowd.

Andy Murray was forced to recover from a two-set deficit to overcome 37year-old Radek Stepanek 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 in a match lasting three hours 41 minutes in total.

The second seed had been trailing by two sets to one but up a break in the fourth when play was suspended on Monday due to darkness.

The Scot duly returned to complete the job after making the crucial break- through at 5-all in the decider to set up a second-round encounter with 164thranked French wildcard Mathias Bourgue.

“He’s al- extremely dif- to play,” said Murray after a ninth career comeback from two sets down. ways been ficult