On a blustery day on Court docket Suzanne Lenglen, the 35-one year-extinct Novak Djokovic cruised throughout the hole two items, breaking Molcan’s wait on three instances with out giving the Slovakian a single opportunity on his procure provide.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic celebrates his bag over Alex Mouten in spherical two of the French Open 2022. (Photo: Reuters)
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic carried out a genuine 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Slovakia’s Alex Molcan in the 2d spherical of the French Open on Wednesday (Would possibly possibly possibly 25) to effect his title defence and quest for a legend-equalling 21st Mountainous Slam now on notice. With Djokovic unable to defend his Australian Open title attributable to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Spaniard Rafa Nadal broke a 3-technique tie for the most Mountainous Slam titles with the Serb and Roger Federer by profitable the Melbourne Park important on the initiate of the one year.
Yet a a hit rerun of his 2021 Roland Garros campaign, when he beat 13-time French Open winner Nadal in the semi-finals, will carry Djokovic alongside his mighty rival. On a blustery day on Court docket Suzanne Lenglen, the 35-one year-extinct Djokovic cruised throughout the hole two items, breaking Molcan’s wait on three instances with out giving the Slovakian a single opportunity on his procure provide.
The 24-one year-extinct Molcan, trained by Djokovic’s passe prolonged-time coach Marian Vajda, was once ranked 255th when he went down in straight items to Djokovic in their simplest old meeting in Belgrade final Would possibly possibly possibly nonetheless since then the left-hander has climbed to a career-high ranking of 38th.
Novak Djokovic has now won extra matches at #RolandGarros than at any other Mountainous Slam. pic.twitter.com/Hc5rjd1Cdq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) Would possibly possibly possibly 25, 2022
With nothing to lose, Molcan unfolded his shoulders in the third effect apart and with some aggressive all-court docket hitting managed to execute out Djokovic’s early advantage to power a tiebreak. But Djokovic then managed to whisk up a instruments and converted his 2d matchpoint when the left-hander found the earn with a return.
“It was once a elaborate match with a form of winds, altering route,” he said on court docket. “It is necessary to be fully centered. I of route have a form of admire for Alex. He’s bought a sport that`s made for this surface. I am hoping it`s the final time I play against Marian Vajda as coach of my opponent.”
The head seed will next meet Slovenia’s passe world amount 43 Aljaz Bedene for a effect apart in the fourth spherical.
