Djokovic, Federer off to winning starts

Sania delighted to come out of injury, into 2nd round.

PARIS:

Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten record in 2011 to 38 wins with a straight-sets dismissal of hapless Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker in the first round of the French Open.

Djokovic’s win took him to within four victories of equalling John McEnroe’s 1984 record for a winning season start of 42 triumphs. He needed just 92 minutes to see off De Bakker, who made the third round last year but came into Roland Garros having won just three times all year.

“I’ve been playing really well on clay,” said Djokovic. “I’ve won three tournaments in the last few weeks, so I’m trying to build on that confidence.”

Federer through as well

Roger Federer cruised past Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in a gentle reminder that there is more to Roland Garros this year than Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Federer, the record 16-time Grand Slam title-winner and 2009 Roland Garros champion, clinched a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 first-round win, his ninth victory in nine outings against the stylish left-hander.

No sweat for Schiavone

Defending champion Francesca Schiavone, who last year became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam, beat American 19-year-old Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-0 and will meet Russian Vesna Dolonts in round two.

“I’m still shaking a little bit,” admitted Schiavone. “There was a lot of adrenaline. I felt really happy to be there. It’s like when you go home and your mum does everything for you and you feel comfortable. I felt like this, but with a lot of adrenaline.”

Russian third-seed Vera Zvonareva, a losing finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010, joined Schiavone in the second round when she overcame Spanish veteran Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-3, 6-3.

Elsewhere, Slovakian Daniela  Hantuchova beat China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-3, while Vinci edged countrywoman Alberta Brianti in a three-set contest, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

There was no such joy, however, for Russian 26th seed Nadia Petrova, who went down 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 to Australia’s Anastasia Rodionova.

Sania puts injury woes behind

Indian star Sania Mirza made a winning return to the French Open and said she was simply happy to be playing again after missing last year’s event with a career-threatening wrist injury.

The 24-year-old world number 72 comfortably beat Germany’s Kristina Barrois 6-3, 6-3 in the first round to set up an encounter with either Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska or Patricia Mayr-Achleitner of Austria.“I love playing tennis and I enjoy competing,” said Mirza. “I missed coming here.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2011.