Djokovic outclasses Moutet in straight sets
Paris, May 30 (UNI)Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the French Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over local favourite Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1) in a night session encounter at Court Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday.
The Serbian ace, seeking his fourth Roland Garros crown and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, was in clinical touch throughout the contest, silencing a partisan French spectators with his trademark baseline precision and superior shot selection.
Despite the electrifying atmosphere created by home fans rallying behind Moutet, Djokovic remained composed. He broke the Frenchman's serve five times during the match while saving three of the five break points he faced.
Though Moutet showed flashes of brilliance and even took the third set to a tiebreak, Djokovic tightened the screws in the decider, running away with it 7-1. The 37-year-old struck five aces and committed just two double faults, while winning a total of 120 points to Moutet's 93.
'I'm happy with the way I played, especially in the first two sets,' said Djokovic after the match. 'Corentin is a tough opponent with the crowd behind him, but I stayed focused and raised my level when it mattered.'
Djokovic will face the winner of the match between Lorenzo Musetti and Gaël Monfils in the third round.
UNI BDN ARN
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
44 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Swiatek demands equal treatment as French Open schedule sparks debate
Amid criticism of the French Open's scheduling decisions, Iga Swiatek pointed to the Mexican waves rippling around Court Suzanne Lenglen during her compelling match against Jaqueline Cristian as evidence of women's tennis's entertainment value. The claycourt major features only one match daily during the primetime evening session that begins after 8.15 p.m. local time (18.15 GMT), but has so far not featured a women's match in that slot in the opening six days of action. The last time a women's singles match was played under the lights of Court Philippe Chatrier was the fourth-round meeting between Aryna Sabalenka and Sloane Stephens on June 4, 2023. Defending women's champion Swiatek, who overcame Cristian of Romania 6-2, 7-5, said she usually adjusts to the schedule she is given but added that it should be 'equal'. 'Women's matches can be entertainment the same way (as men's matches). As you could see today on my match, they (fans) were doing the Mexican waves and everything. So people like it,' Swiatek told reporters. 'We can put on a nice show. That's why I think it should be equal. That's it.' ALSO READ | Coco Gauff says women's matches 'worthy' of French Open night session Women's governing body the WTA told Reuters via email it encourages all combined tournaments to provide a balanced match schedule that showcases the best of both women's and men's tennis in premium scheduling slots. Three-times Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur reignited a debate that has raged since night sessions were introduced at Roland Garros four years ago, saying this week that women's matches were being sidelined. The Tunisian added in a post on X on Friday that 'honouring one side of the sport shouldn't mean ignoring the other'. Night sessions are exclusively broadcast by Amazon's Prime service in France. French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said that women's matches, played over a maximum of three sets as opposed to the five on the men's side, could finish 'really fast' and having an extra match in that slot was unfeasible. ALSO READ | What's behind the French Open's lack of women's night matches? 'If we have two matches in the night session it doesn't work in terms of how late players are going to finish,' said Mauresmo in a press conference on Friday, explaining that earlier starts would not work as well. 'The stands are going to be empty in most of the first match. That's what we think. So we keep this one match in the evening. It's not ideal. 'We cannot check every box because we have many things to think when we're making these choices.' Mauresmo, who won two Grand Slam singles titles, said that the French Open scheduling was not a reflection of its attitude towards women's players. 'For me, the message is not changing, and it has never been that the girls are not worthy to play at night,' she said. 'It's never been this. I'll not accept that you carry this message. That's clear to me.'
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Alcaraz battles past Dzumhur to reach French Open fourth round
Carlos Alcaraz survived a late challenge on Friday at Roland Garros to keep his title defense alive. After a commanding start, the Spaniard had to reset his game to overcome Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The 22-year-old found himself down a break early in the fourth set but regrouped to finish the match after a rollercoaster three hours and 14 minutes. Although Alcaraz was broken while serving for the match at 5-4, he immediately responded with a break of his own to seal the win and move into the fourth round. Alcaraz opened strong, taking control with aggressive forehands, some clocking over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). Dzumhur had break points in every set and finally converted his first after seven misses, sparking late drama on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Bosnian, who has a diverse game, adopted a more attacking position on the baseline and produced impressive backhand winners down the line while also moving forward to apply pressure. Alcaraz appeared frustrated at times, committing uncharacteristic errors as he struggled to respond. After failing to convert his first nine break chances across the third and fourth sets, Alcaraz finally capitalised to level the fourth set and stop Dzumhur's momentum. The 19-time tour-level titlist created 21 break opportunities in the match, converting seven — including one to close the match at 5-4 in the fourth. He totaled 52 winners, 38 from his forehand. Since May of last year, Alcaraz holds a 30-2 record on clay, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index — a stretch that includes his maiden Roland Garros title and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The World No. 2 in the ATP Rankings also claimed ATP Masters 1000 titles on clay in Monte-Carlo and Rome earlier in 2025. As the second seed and anchor of the bottom half of the draw, Alcaraz will next face 13th seed Ben Shelton in a high-profile fourth-round meeting. He leads Shelton 2-0 in their ATP Head2Head series. Alcaraz is aiming to become the first man to defend his Roland Garros crown since fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal did so in 2019-2020. The four-time Grand Slam champion has now reached at least the fourth round in 11 of his past 12 major appearances, with his only early exit coming in the second round of last year's US Open (loss to van de Zandschulp). Dzumhur, 33, was competing in the third round of a major for the sixth time and for the first time since 2018 at Roland Garros — the same year he reached a career-high No. 23 in the ATP Rankings.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Alcaraz overcomes Dzumhur challenge to enter fourth round
Paris, May 31 (UNI) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the fourth round of the French Open with a hard-fought four-set victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday IST. The third-round clash saw Alcaraz prevail 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 57 minutes, with the Spaniard showing moments of brilliance to stave off a strong fightback from the experienced Bosnian. Alcaraz, seeded third, raced through the opening two sets with a flurry of clean winners and aggressive returning, breaking Dzumhur three times while maintaining pressure on the Bosnian's serve. However, Dzumhur, ranked outside the top 100, clawed back in the third set, capitalising on a lapse in Alcaraz's intensity and converting one of his 12 break point opportunities. The fourth set saw both players exchange breaks early before Alcaraz tightened his grip on the match, winning five games in a row at one point and finishing with 139 total points to Džumhur's 118. The Spaniard served four aces to Dzumhur's none and won 64% of points on his first serve. Despite committing five double faults and facing 12 break points, Alcaraz managed to win 15 service games and 81 service points overall. Dzumhur fought valiantly, winning 50 receiving points and matching Alcaraz on second serve win percentage (60% vs 65%), but ultimately fell short against the world number three's consistent firepower and court coverage. Alcaraz will play his next match face in the round of 16 as he continues his quest for a maiden Roland Garros title. UNI BDN ARN
