Novak Djokovic has a 'good feeling' after breezing through Roland Garros opener
Novak Djokovic says he has a "good feeling" after easing through his first round match at the French Open.
Fresh from winning his 100th ATP title in Geneva on Sunday, the Serbian set about his attempt to win a record 25th grand slam with a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over American Mackenzie McDonald.
The decision to go to Switzerland, after skipping the far more prestigious Italian Open, was a surprise but it seems to be paying off so far.
"I think it was good move to go to Geneva, to be honest, because I was struggling a little bit with confidence levels, doubting my game a bit," said the 38-year-old.
"So it was good that I got four matches under my belt, won a title. Coming into Roland Garros, it feels different than I had comparing to the feeling I had three weeks ago.
"Let's see how far I can go here, but I have a good feeling for now."
Djokovic spent much of the first set complaining to the umpire about the rain falling into Court Philippe-Chatrier, before eventually he got his wish for the roof to be closed.
"At one point the supervisor told me, 'but they're playing everywhere on the outside courts in the same conditions'," he explained.
"I said, 'yeah, but we are on the court with a roof. Why do you have the roof then? What's the point?'
"In the end they closed the roof, which I think most of the stadium wanted. If I understood well in French, they were asking basically for the roof to be closed. I think it was better for everyone. For the players, for the stands, as well."
Coco Gauff made it safely through to the second round despite taking to the court without any rackets.
The American second seed only realised her elementary error when she opened her bag, and a ball kid had to fetch them from the locker room.
"Honestly, I thought they put the rackets in the bag, and my side court bag is filled with drinks and everything," Gauff told TNT.
"It felt like I had enough weight. And then I got on court, and I opened the first zipper. I was like, 'OK, no rackets.' The second zipper, I was like, 'Oh my God. I went on court with no rackets'."
Once she was properly equipped, Gauff dispatched Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-2.
Men's third seed Alexander Zverev's preparation for Roland Garros was hindered by being violently ill at the Hamburg Open, and then the small matter of his plane being struck by lightning as he left for Paris.
But the German put that troubled build-up behind him as he beat American teenager Learner Tien 6-3 6-3 6-4.
"I didn't have the ideal preparation," said last year's runner-up. "I think throwing up three days before a tournament starts is not ideal.
"Look, I'm doing my things, I'm doing my job, I'm looking at myself at the moment. Then when it's semi-finals, finals, whatever, then we look at who I play.
"Right now, everybody needs to win the matches, everybody needs to beat the opponents that are in front of them.
"Today was Tien. After tomorrow it's going to be someone else for me. Yeah, it's about taking care of your things first."
Dutchman Jesper de Jong, who beat Britain's Jack Draper in the first round last year, awaits in round two.
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