Djokovic opens quest with comfortable win

Serb takes first-round victory over Portugal’s Sousa in French Open.

PARIS: Serbia’s second seed Novak Djokovic opened his bid for a maiden French Open title on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 first-round win over Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

The six-time grand slam winner, who is only missing the Roland Garros title to complete his set of all four majors, began in style with a confident showing on the Philippe Chatrier centre court.

Sousa, ranked 42 in the world and a French Open best of reaching the second round last year, was outclassed by Djokovic’s all-round game.

The Serb, who is coming off a stellar showing in Rome where he defeated Rafael Nadal, following earlier victories in 2014 at Indian Wells and Miami, converted eight of 15 break points.

He also rained down eight aces behind a first serve percentage of just under 70 per cent in a match that lasted 1hr 46 minutes.

The former world number one now faces French hope Jeremy Chardy for a place in the last 32.

Sharapova shines, Nishikori crashes

Maria Sharapova reached the French Open second round on Monday at a damp and chilly Roland Garros as Japanese hope Kei Nishikori became the tournament’s first major casualty.

Sharapova, seeded seventh and the 2012 champion, needed just over an hour to beat fellow Russian, Ksenia Pervak, the world’s 156th-ranked player, 6-1, 6-2.



The 27-year-old, who lost last year’s final to Serena Williams, looked comfortable under the cloudy conditions on the Philippe Chatrier court, breaking her opponent five times.

Sharapova will next face Bulgaria’s 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova.

“First matches at grand slams are always tough, no matter how prepared you are, no matter how many matches you’ve played,” said Sharapova, now 13-1 on clay in 2014 with titles in Stuttgart and Madrid.

“There is always a bit more tension in that type of grand slam atmosphere. It’s certainly more special, especially when you walk out on court.”

Japanese ninth seed Nishikori was left feeling as miserable as the Paris weather as he crashed out in the first round, clearly still suffering from his recent back injury. He went down 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-2 to Slovakia’s Martin Klizan.

“It’s terrible,” said Nishikori, who is coached by 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang.

“But this is my tennis life now. Injuries will come again for sure so I have to take care of my body. I will have to be ready and do all that I can to stay healthy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.

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