PARIS:
Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 41 matches and set up a blockbuster French Open third-round clash with giant Argentine and former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro who outclassed Blaz Kavcic 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Second-seed Djokovic was leading Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-1, 2-3 when the Romanian quit their second-round tie with a leg injury.
“It’s never easy to see an opponent giving up,” said Djokovic. “It’s bad luck for him. I played well and it’s good to spend as little time on court as possible.”
The Australian Open champion now stands five wins away from equalling Guillermo Vilas’s record for a winning streak. He is also only three away from John McEnroe’s 1984 record for an undefeated start to a season.
Federer cruises into last-32
Roger Federer won 13 games in succession as the 16-time Grand Slam title-winner easily disposed of French wildcard Maxime Teixeira 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 to reach the last-32.
Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, will take on Serbian 29th-seed Janko Tipsarevic, who beat Spain’s Pere Riba, for a place in the last-16.
“He fought hard and was trying his best,” said Federer. “It was a good match. I’m happy with the way I played.”
Also going through to the last-32 were David Ferrer, who defeated France’s Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Wozniacki edges Wozniak
World number one Caroline Wozniacki took her place in the third round by edging Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) in an entertaining encounter.
The 20-year-old Dane will face Slovakian 28th-seed Daniela Hantuchova.
“It was a tough match,” said Wozniacki. “I started off well and everything was going the way I wanted it to.”
Australian eighth-seed Samatha Stosur crushed Romanian 19-year-old Simona Halep 6-0, 6-2 in her second-round match.
Earlier, Kim Clijsters marked her return to Roland Garros by beating Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2011.
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