Novak Djokovic began his pursuit of a record 23rd major title with a dominant performance against Aleksandar Kovacevic at Roland Garros. Djokovic won the match 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1) on Court Philippe Chatrier. Despite a strong start from Kovacevic, Djokovic took control after securing a break in the sixth game of the match. In the third set, Kovacevic mounted a comeback, but Djokovic held his nerve and won the tie-break convincingly. Djokovic converted five of his 12 break points and hit 41 winners compared to Kovacevic’s 25.
In his post-match press conference, Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the challenging conditions with strong winds. While admitting that he could play better, Djokovic was pleased with his overall level of play. Kovacevic, ranked 114th in the world, showed glimpses of his potential but was unable to match Djokovic’s consistency and returning ability.
With a victory at Roland Garros, Djokovic can surpass Rafael Nadal in the race for the most Grand Slam titles. He previously won the Australian Open earlier in the year. Djokovic’s next opponent in Paris will be Marton Fucsovics. A win at Roland Garros would also propel Djokovic back to the top of the ATP Rankings. With 86 match wins at the French Open, Djokovic currently trails only Nadal, who has 112 victories at the tournament.