Free-flowing Djokovic close to his best in second-round win over Carballes Baena

Novak Djokovic moved comfortably into the third round of Roland-Garros by beating Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 under the roof of Philippe-Chatrier.

The world No 1 put in a performance closely resembling that of his imperious best form as he confidently dispatched the Spaniard with efficient and free-flowing tennis.

This was arguably the highest-quality showing the Serb has put together throughout the course of this year’s European clay-court stretch, with the top seed and defending champion yet again proving the master of peaking when it matters most.

After a closely-fought opening eight games, Djokovic accelerated into top gear, winning seven of the next eight games en route to a two-set lead.

The third was more of the same, as Djokovic’s range and touch were impeccable and he closed out an impressive straight-set win to reach the third round in Paris yet again.

The world No 1 will face the winner of the match between Gael Monfils and Lorenzo Musetti, the No 30 seed, next.

In the previous round of the Roland-Garros 2024, the 37-year-old Serb defeated French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert (6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4).

Carballes Baena, ranked No 63, beat Frenchman Constant Lestienne (6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2) in the previous round of the Roland-Garros 2024.

Paris (Grand Slam), other second-round results (Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 53.478.000, most recent results first):

• Gael Monfils vs. Lorenzo Musetti
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Casper Ruud
• Ben Shelton vs. Kei Nishikori
• Mariano Navone vs. Tomas Machac
• Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Alexander Bublik
• Alex De Minaur vs. Jaume Munar
• Flavio Cobolli vs. Holger Rune
• Karen Khachanov vs. Jozef Kovalik
• Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs. Arthur Rinderknech
• Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. Giulio Zeppieri
• Taylor Fritz vs. Dusan Lajovic
• Fabio Fognini vs. Tommy Paul
• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Filip Misolic
• Corentin Moutet vs. Alexander Shevchenko: thursday
• Alexander Zverev (4) beat David Goffin: 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2
• Lorenzo Sonego vs. Zhizhen Zhang: thursday
• Luciano Darderi vs. Tallon Griekspoor: thursday
• Sebastian Ofner vs. Sebastian Baez: thursday
• Grigor Dimitrov (10) beat Fabian Marozsan: 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
• Zizou Bergs (Q) beat Maximilian Marterer: 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
• Denis Shapovalov vs. Frances Tiafoe: thursday
• Hubert Hurkacz (8) beat Brandon Nakashima: 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Sebastian Korda (27) beat SoonWoo Kwon: 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (21) beat Henri Squire (Q): 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Alexandre Muller (WC): 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Miomir Kecmanovic: 6-1, 5-0 ret.
• Jannik Sinner (2) beat Richard Gasquet (WC): 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
• Pavel Kotov beat Stan Wawrinka: 7-6 (5), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5)
• Andrey Rublev (6) beat Pedro Martinez: 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Jesper De Jong (Q): 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) beat Daniel Altmaier: 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4