Djokovic dominates Roland Garros opener
AFP | Paris
Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open yesterday, while women's contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva successfully got their campaigns under way at a windy Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old Djokovic had little trouble in seeing off 98thranked American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.
'I don't know how many more Grand Slams I've got left in my body,' said Djokovic, seeded sixth and playing in Paris for the first time since winning Olympic gold last August.
'I'm just trying to enjoy every moment in this magnificent stadium.'
The three-time French Open champion lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid earlier in the claycourt season, but was dominant against McDonald, with his only hic-cup coming when he failed to serve out the second set in the eighth game.
The Serb, who withdrew injured before the quarter-finals in 2024, will meet a Frenchman in either Corentin Moutet or Clement Tabur in round two.
Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev, who saw off American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
World number three Zverev is hoping to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.
His preparation has been far from ideal after his plane was struck by lightning on the journey to Paris following a last-16 loss in Hamburg.
The 19-year-old Tien, who knocked out Daniil Medvedev en route to the Australian Open last 16 in January, was overpowered on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Zverev, who has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last four French Opens, will next face Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing a dramatic clash with Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5.
Grigor Dimitrov retired injured for a fourth consecu - tive Grand Slam tournament, calling it quits due to a leg injury when leading American Ethan Quinn by two sets to one.
Ninth seed Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, started well with an accomplished 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over Serbia's Laslo Djere.
Miami champion Jakub Mensik came through an entertaining match against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, repeatedly taunting the home crowd during a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Gauff, Andreeva impress
In the women's draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff brushed aside Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.
Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has n o t w o n a tourna - ment since l a st ye a r 's WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.
The 21-year-old A m e r i c a n h a s reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros.
'I knew it wasn't going to be a clean match with how windy it was,' said the second seed, who initially forgot her racquets which had to be collected by a ball boy.
'Honestly, it was two different matches depending on which side of the court you were on.'
Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells and recovered well after falling 3-0 down to Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the first set.
The 18-year-old quickly overturned the double-break deficit and eventually cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the world number 98.
'With time I played better and better, so I felt like closer to the end of the match was playing good, not like in the beginning,' said the sixth seed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
2 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Djokovic Joins Nadal in Century Club
TDT | Manama Novak Djokovic's legacy at Roland Garros added another line of brilliance on Monday as the three-time champion powered past Britain's Cameron Norrie in straight sets — 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 — to record his 100th match victory at the French Open. In doing so, he joined Rafael Nadal as only the second man in history to reach a century of wins at the Paris Grand Slam. The milestone moment, achieved in typically clinical fashion, keeps Djokovic on course for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title and reaffirms his status as one of the sport's most enduring forces, even at 38. New Century in Paris Nadal's 112-match win record at Roland Garros stands as one of the most iconic in tennis, and Djokovic has long chased the Spaniard's shadow on the red clay. Monday's win marks a new personal benchmark: Roland Garros is now officially Djokovic's most successful Slam in terms of matches won, nudging ahead of his 99 wins at the Australian Open — where he has lifted the trophy 10 times. Speaking to the French crowd after the match, Djokovic said, 'It's a number which is very good and nice, but a 101st win is even better. It's not finished for me here. I feel very good and good to make history here.' If his form so far is any indicator, that 101st win could arrive sooner than later. Vintage Novak Djokovic hasn't dropped a set through four rounds in Paris — a 12-set sweep that's showcased his trademark intensity and meticulous point construction. Against Norrie, the world No. 1 recovered from an early exchange of breaks to completely dominate proceedings on Court Philippe Chatrier. While Norrie, ranked 33rd, tried to disrupt Djokovic's rhythm with aggressive left-handed strokes, the Serb responded with unwavering court coverage and relentless depth. A break to love early in the third set after a Norrie error all but sealed the Briton's fate. 'I feel good, I have a lot of expectations from my game,' Djokovic said. 'Every day I play better... everything is positive and solid at the moment.' The victory extends Djokovic's perfect record against Norrie to 6–0, following a similarly one-sided win en route to the Geneva title in May. Quarter-Final Bound With the win, Djokovic advances to his 17th French Open quarter-final — and remarkably, his 16th in a row — becoming the oldest man to do so at Roland Garros since Istvan Gulyas in 1971. Next up: a clash with Germany's Alexander Zverev, the tournament's third seed. The pair last met in the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year, a match Djokovic was forced to retire from due to injury. He currently leads their head-to-head 8–5. Given Djokovic's form, fitness, and fire, the Parisian crowd can expect a marquee battle. Still Hungry Despite a year that has otherwise lacked the dominance typically associated with Djokovic — albeit one that still included a 100th ATP title — the Serb's form in Paris is peaking at the right time. His movement, shot selection, and mental sharpness appear undiminished, sending a message to the younger field that his era is far from over. With history in sight and Nadal watching from retirement, Djokovic's 2025 French Open campaign is building into something special — another chapter in a career already defined by records, resilience, and relentless ambition.
Daily Tribune
16 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
‘Sky's the limit' for Tiafoe at French Open
AFP | Paris Frances Tiafoe believes the 'sky's the limit' for him after reaching the French Open quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday. The American downed German world number 66 Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the last 16 to set up a match with Lorenzo Musetti for a semi-final place. It will be Tiafoe's first ATP quarter-final since finishing runner-up at a low-key event in Houston in March. 'It's been horrible. I've been travelling around, and it hasn't been fun at all,' he said. 'Kind of faced it. After that it gave me space to just play. You know, when I can play, I can play. This is not really something that's like a shock. 'When I'm playing well, I'm there and present and having fun, I think the sky's the limit for me.' The 27-year-old, who has reached at least the quarters at the last three US Opens, is yet to drop a set in Paris and is confident he can go even further. 'I've been the super dark horse. I don't think anyone is really thinking that I was going to even be in this position,' added Tiafoe. 'But at the same time, I don't really look at it like house money. 'Now that I'm here, I'm like, 'Let 's win'. I was having dinner yesterday. I'm like, ' Yeah, feeling great, butlet's keep winning ' . There 's no thing more fun than winning. 'Once I get my feet going and matches under me, I'm dangerous. Then I'm feeling really good, and I'll play anybody.'
Daily Tribune
16 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
PSG celebrate historic victory
AFP | Paris An estimated 100,000 fans packed the Champs-Elysees on Sunday to cheer the Paris Saint-Germain players and staff as they paraded the Champions League trophy in the French capital. The team came by bus directly from Roissy airport after touching down from Munich, where they beat Inter Milan in Saturday's final. They were greeted along the route by jubilant supporters. Some had flags or flares, all wanted to savour their club winning the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history. The players, all wearing shirts with '25' on it, brandished the trophy and addressed the crowd as they drove. 'Lets' all sing together,' shouted their emblematic captain Marquinhos. Coach Luis Enrique and his team, including Desire Doue, the 19-year-old who lit up the final by scoring twice in the dazzling 5-0 win over Inter, later went to a reception at the Elysee palace hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Police were on high alert to prevent any repetition of the scenes that scarred the victory celebrations in the capital after the final whistle on Saturday night. An estimated 11.8 million viewers watched the game on French television which sparked a long night of wild celebrations. Fans thronged the streets of the capital, letting off flares and fireworks as decades of pent-up frustration were released. Police made nearly 600 arrests across France, the interior ministry said, after more than 200 cars were torched and police clashed with youths. In the southwest town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest. A 23-year-old man riding a scooter in central Paris also died after being hit by a vehicle. A policeman was put in an induced coma after being injured by a firework. President Macron on Sunday called the violence 'unacceptable' while PSG also condemned it. 'These isolated acts are contrary to the club's values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves to be commended,' PSG said. The violence paled against an incident last Monday when a Premier League victory parade by Liverpool Football Club in the English city ended in horrific scenes after a car ploughed into the crowd, leaving 79 injured. 'Win again' After Saturday's final, Macron hailed PSG's victory on social media as a 'day of glory.' 'Bravo, we are all proud,' he wrote. 'Paris is the capital of Europe tonight.' The margin of victory was the greatest in a final in the history of the Champions League or the European Cup that preceded it. Qatar Sports Investments pumped hundreds of millions of euros pumped into PSG since buying an ailing club in 2011, but over the last couple of have seasons turned their back on their former policy of signing stars such as Neymar and Lionel Messi and focussed instead spent their money on young French talent. Doue cemented his status as a rising star in world football. Senny Mayulu, another 19-yearold, came on as a substitute towards the end and scored the fifth goal. 'I still can't believe it, I think it will only seem real tomorrow,' Mayulu said after the game. 'In the dressing room, everyone broke down in their own way, you could see it in their eyes, people were filled with joy and pride.' PSG had lost their only other appearance in the final five years ago was the result but after Saturday's triumph, said they planned to win more. 'The objective now is to win again,' PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said. 'It has taken 14 years of hard work but we are building something for the future.'
