Djokovic dominant in Roland-Garros opener against Ymer
Novak Djokovic cruises through his Roland-Garros first-round match against Mikael Ymer on Tuesday. Next up for the world No 1 is Ricardas Berankis.
Djokovic French Open
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French Open first round
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Djokovic d. Ymer 6-0, 6-2, 6-3
- Key info: Djokovic broke serve nine times in 12 return games
- You will also learn: The top seed’s draw continues to look friendly in the early stages
- Why you should read this story: Djokovic won the match but Ymer hit the shot of the day
Novak Djokovic needed only one hour and 38 minutes to see off Mikael Ymer in round one of the French Open on Wednesday afternoon. It was another rainy day in Paris, but the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier once again prevented the weather from causing any significant problems.
In fact, there were no problems of any kind for Djokovic in this one. Ymer played his way into plenty of extended baseline rallies, but he had no offensive weapons with which to seriously hurt the 2016 Roland-Garros champion. Nor could the 83rd-ranked gain any traction on his own serve; he was broken a ridiculous nine times in 12 service games. Thus it hardly mattered that Ymer did well to convert both of his break points over the course of the match.
“I am definitely very confident,” Djokovic assured. “I won every match that I played this year except obviously the one in New York where I was disqualified. Other than that, I won every match. So if you keep on winning, obviously with every match that you win your confidence level raises a notch higher.
“These conditions are different than what we are used to here in French Open. Everyone has been talking about it. The balls, the heavy clay, the cold weather — it all affects the play, of course. But I think it’s quite suitable to my style of the game. I actually enjoyed myself on the court today. I think I played really well. A few hiccups here and there, but I think generally the game is there.”
Doesn’t get any better than that. 🤩@DjokerNole sweeps Ymer in round one, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/E1EGNB1UaK
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 29, 2020
On the bright side for Ymer, he at least produced one shot that won’t soon be forgotten — at least not by him. Trailing by a set and a break, the 22-year-old briefly injected some positive energy into his effort by coming up with a remarkable tweener winner.
THIS tweener winner by Mikael Ymer 😍
(🎥 @rolandgarros) pic.twitter.com/ueWpKtpgGd
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) September 29, 2020
Berankis next for Djokovic
The top-ranked Serb awaits Ricardas Berankis in the second round on Thursday. Berankis advanced by beating clay-court specialist Hugo Dellien in surprisingly routine fashion (6-1, 6-4, 6-4).
With Hubert Hurkacz already out of the tournament, Djokovic cannot face a seeded opponent until at least the fourth round. Should he advance past Berankis, the top seed would meet either Tennys Sandgren or lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan in the round of 32.
Of course, after what happened at the US Open it is safe to say that Djokovic will not be looking beyond his next match.
