Camille Naredo

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.   Matthew Stockman, Getty Images/AFP 

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 25: Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.   Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 - Day 8

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748417651897AFP__20250326__2206923191__v2__Preview__MiamiOpenPresentedByItau2025Day8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Matthew Stockman, Getty Images/AFP "/>Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Lorenzo Musetti of Italy during the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Matthew Stockman, Getty Images/AFP </div>PARIS, France -- Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday, while women&#x27;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 98th-ranked 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.&quot;Well, the emotions were really nice,&quot; said Djokovic, seeded sixth and playing in Paris for the first time since winning Olympic gold last August.&quot;But, you know, it was quite challenging conditions I think at the beginning of the match with the wind and rain and everything that was happening.&quot;The three-time French Open champion lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid earlier in the clay-court season, but was dominant against McDonald, despite failing to serve out the second set in the eighth game.&quot;I think it was good move to go to Geneva, to be honest, because I was also struggling a little bit with confidence level, doubting my game a bit,&quot; said Djokovic.&quot;So it was good that I got four matches under my belt, won a title. Coming into Roland Garros, it feels different than I had comparing to the feeling I had three weeks ago. Let&#x27;s see how far I can go here, but I have a good feeling for now.&quot;The Serb, who withdrew injured before the quarter-finals in 2024, will next meet 73rd-ranked Frenchman Corentin Moutet.Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year&#x27;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, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/5/26/tennis-alcaraz-wins-roland-garros-opener-swiatek-makes-strong-start-0115" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Alcaraz wins Roland Garros opener, Swiatek makes strong start</a></div>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 Daniil 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 consecutive Grand Slam tournament, calling it quits due to a leg injury when leading American Ethan Quinn by two sets to one.British fifth seed Jack Draper won his first match at the French Open, rallying past Italy&#x27;s 68th-ranked Mattia Bellucci 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round on his third attempt.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&#x27;s Laslo Djere.Miami champion Jakub Mensik came through an entertaining match against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 victory.<div> </div><div>- Gauff, Andreeva impress -</div>In the women&#x27;s draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff brushed aside Australia&#x27;s Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year&#x27;s WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros.&quot;I knew it wasn&#x27;t going to be a clean match with how windy it was,&quot; said the second seed, who initially forgot her racquets which had to be collected by a ball boy.&quot;Honestly, it was two different matches depending on which side of the court you were on.&quot;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.&quot;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,&quot; said the sixth seed.Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, will play American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round.Third seed Jessica Pegula also made serene progress with a 6-2, 6-4 success against Romania&#x27;s Anca Todoni as the American returned to Roland Garros after missing the 2024 edition due to injuries.Two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka hammered Belgium&#x27;s Yanina Wickmayer, who will retire after Wimbledon, 6-0, 6-0 on Court 6, while Magdalena Frech knocked out three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur. -- Jed Court<div>© Agence France-Presse</div><div> </div><div> </div>

Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday.

Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday.

Djokovic powers through Roland Garros opener; Gauff, Andreeva win

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Djokovic powers through Roland Garros opener; Gauff, Andreeva win

Agence France-Presse

Published May 28, 2025 03:39 PM PHT

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