Djokovic gets past tricky Kovacevic, equalling Federer’s first-round record as best in the Open era

Novak Djokovic moved into the second round of Roland-Garros, coming through a testing examination against a talented opponent, beating American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

In windy conditions on the Parisian clay, the world No 3 struck the ball finely throughout, not offering his less experienced opponent any opportunities to ask difficult questions of the Serb in the early exchanges.

However, Kovacevic, ranked one place outside the world’s top 100, offered a glimpse late in the match of what his talent can produce.

Djokovic is the second player in the Open Era to win 65 consecutive first-round matches at Grand Slam events (between Roland Garros 2006 and 2023), equalling Roger Federer (between Wimbledon 2003 and 2021). Men and women combined.

Read also

“The desire is still there, but things can change quickly – I am 36, guys”: Djokovic doesn’t avoid the age factor anymore

Tennis Majors

Djokovic comfortable in the tie-break

With Djokovic in full control and serving for the match, the young American broke serve following a loose service game from Djokovic to give the French Open crowd an extended third set, taking the match to a third set tiebreak.

However, it was a short-lived charge as the 22-time Grand Slam champion won the tiebreak comfortably to get his French Open campaign off to a spotless start.

While Djokovic’s 22 unforced errors was higher than he would have liked, he more than made up for it by striking 41 clean winners to his opponent’s 25.

He created 12 break point opportunities, but took less than half of them, breaking Kovacevic’s serve only five times. Nevertheless, it was a straightforward enough victory for the Serb, who took the match in just under two-and-a-half hours.

Djokovic “had to earn it”

Speaking on court after clinching victory, Djokovic spoke of his desire to do well at this year’s tournament.

“It’s a pleasure to play here, it’s a great tournament … there are a lot of emotions here … I am very motivated for to do well here.

“Congratulations to Alex for a big battle today. The conditions were difficult. The wind was changing. But I’m happy and I am staying positive.”

He went on to say, “I think in the first sets I played really well … but then I missed opportunities and lost a little focus in the third set, but his level was strong … it wasn’t an easy opponent. I had to earn it.”

A two-time champion in Paris, Djokovic is bidding for his 23rd Grand Slam title as this year’s Roland-Garros, a milestone that would move him one clear of Rafael Nadal – absent from this year’s tournament – in the all-time men’s Grand Slam singles titles race.

Djokovic faces a tricky encounter against powerful-hitting Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in the second round.

You might also like this

“Novak spends one hour before even hitting the ball” – Kovacevic’s valuable takeaways before meeting his idol Djokovic on red clay

tennis majors

Djokovic: “Alcaraz is the favourite of Roland-Garros because…”

tennis majors

How it took a phone call from a president to calm Nicolas Mahut’s nerves before facing Roger Federer

tennis majors

Roland-Garros: Wawrinka overcomes Ramos-Vinolas in epic first-round encounter

tennis majors

Roland-Garros: Auger-Aliassime and Thiem out, as Norrie battles through

tennis majors

Roland-Garros (Grand Slam), other first-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 49.600.000, most recent results first):

• Gael Monfils vs. Sebastian Baez: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Timofey Skatov vs. Grigor Dimitrov: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Michael Mmoh vs. Taylor Fritz: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Richard Gasquet vs. Arthur Rinderknech: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Quentin Halys vs. Guido Pella: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Emil Ruusuvuori vs. Gregoire Barrere: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Thiago Monteiro vs. Yannick Hanfmann: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Jaume Munar: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Holger Rune vs. Christopher Eubanks: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Thiago Seyboth Wild vs. Daniil Medvedev: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Hugo Gaston vs. Alex Molcan: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Alexander Zverev vs. Lloyd Harris: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Alexander Bublik vs. Giulio Zeppieri: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Max Purcell vs. Jordan Thompson: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Yoshihito Nishioka vs. J.J. Wolf: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Elias Ymer vs. Casper Ruud: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Nicolas Jarry vs. Hugo Dellien: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Tommy Paul vs. Dominic Stricker: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Andrea Vavassori vs. Miomir Kecmanovic: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard vs. Genaro Alberto Olivieri: Tuesday at Roland-Garros
• Jannik Sinner vs. Alexandre Muller: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Arthur Fils vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Luca Van Assche vs. Marco Cecchinato: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Filip Krajinovic vs. Frances Tiafoe: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Jiri Lehecka vs. Jan-Lennard Struff: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Flavio Cobolli: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Daniel Altmaier vs. Marc-Andrea Huesler: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Zhizhen Zhang vs. Dusan Lajovic: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Hamad Medjedovic vs. Marcos Giron: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Dominic Thiem vs. Pedro Cachin: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Borna Coric vs. Federico Coria: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Botic van de Zandschulp vs. Thiago Agustin Tirante: Monday at Roland-Garros
• Taro Daniel beat Christopher O’Connell: 6-0, 6-2, 6-4
• Stan Wawrinka vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas: monday
• Fabio Fognini beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (10): 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
• Roberto Bautista Agut (19) beat Yibing Wu: 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-1
• Aslan Karatsev (Q) beat Alexei Popyrin: 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-2
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Jack Draper: 6-4, 1-0 ret.
• Alex De Minaur (18) beat Ilya Ivashka: 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
• Juan Pablo Varillas beat Juncheng Shang (Q): 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
• Diego Schwartzman beat Bernabe Zapata Miralles (32): 1-6, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-0, 6-4
• Cameron Norrie (14) beat Benoit Paire (WC): 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
• Denis Shapovalov (26) beat Brandon Nakashima: 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3
• Lucas Pouille (Q) beat Jurij Rodionov (LL): 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
• Ugo Humbert beat Adrian Mannarino: 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
• Alexander Shevchenko beat Oscar Otte: 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2)
• Lorenzo Sonego beat Ben Shelton (30): 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
• Andrey Rublev (7) beat Laslo Djere: 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Corentin Moutet beat Arthur Cazaux (WC): 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
• Lorenzo Musetti (17) beat Mikael Ymer: 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
• Roberto Carballes Baena beat Emilio Nava (Q): 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Daniel Elahi Galan: 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2
• Sebastian Korda (24) beat Mackenzie McDonald: 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
• Nuno Borges beat John Isner: 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (9)
• Jason Kubler beat Facundo Diaz Acosta (LL): 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) beat Jiri Vesely: 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7)
• Marton Fucsovics beat Hugo Grenier (WC): 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
• Thanasi Kokkinakis (WC) beat Daniel Evans (20): 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
• Radu Albot (Q) beat Patrick Kypson (WC): 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
• Karen Khachanov (11) beat Constant Lestienne: 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3
• Hubert Hurkacz (13) beat David Goffin: 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Pedro Martinez (Q): 6-4, 2-6, 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
• Sebastian Ofner (Q) beat Maxime Cressy: 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-2