Novak Djokovic started Roland Garros with a 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Tuesday.
The Serbian won in two hours and 33 minutes on the Philippe-Chatrier court, as he attempts to become the first player in history to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies.
“I played well but I don’t want to get too carried away,” Djokovic said. My feedback could have been better, but his services were of very good quality. »
Djokovic was crowned at Roland Garros in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
“Major tournaments are what motivates me to get up every morning, basically,” Djokovic said. I hope to do another long drive. »
He will need to reach the final to stay at the top of the ATP, but he arrived in Paris without having reached a final round in 2024.
He is 0-3 in semifinals this year – including last week in Geneva. His record is 15-6.
33-year-old Frenchman, Herbert is ranked 142e.
The public tried to motivate him to surpass himself. The crowd erupted when Djokovic went to the side to get a towel after slipping while reaching for a ball late in the third set.
Even though Herbert’s game didn’t demand a maximum expenditure of energy from Djokovic, he did enough to keep the match interesting. The total winning shots even went in favor of Herbert, 37-29.
Djokovic’s opponent in the second round will be Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena, 63e.
Earlier Tuesday, Casper Ruud began his journey by defeating Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4 and 6-3.
“I think I’m having a pretty good season on clay,” said seventh-seeded Rudd.
Ruud, who dominates the ATP with 36 victories this season, won the Geneva Open and the Barcelona Open, in addition to being a finalist in Monte-Carlo, where he lost to the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas .
The Norwegian has reached the final at Roland Garros for the last two years; he bowed out to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and to Novak Djokovic in 2023.
The final day of the first round took place with the thermometer reading around 16 degrees Celsius.
Heavy downpours delayed play for nearly five hours on several fields. At this time, matches continued only under the retractable roofs of the complex’s two main stadiums.
Alex De Minaur, 11e seeded, ousted Alex Michelsen 6-1, 6-0 and 6-2.
In the women’s category, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka defeated Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat Belgian Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-3.
Sabalenka and Rybakina could meet in the semi-finals.
Sabalenka is hoping to become the first player since 2015 to win both the Australian and French Opens in the same campaign. Serena Williams then accomplished it.
Cornet bows out
Alizé Cornet received a standing ovation and a farewell trophy after playing the final match of her career, a 6-2, 6-1 defeat at the hands of seventh seed Qinwen Zheng in the first round.
The 34-year-old Frenchwoman had a pass. She had already announced that this tournament was going to be her last.
The president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), Gilles Moretton, as well as the tournament director, Amélie Mauresmo, participated in the post-match ceremony on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
In his emotional speech, Cornet thanked his family and French supporters, expressing gratitude for their support over the years.
“You made me experience incredible emotions. It’s hard to realize that this is the last time I will feel like this,” Cornet said.
A video recalling the best moments of his career, started in 2005, was played on the giant screen.
Cornet reached 11e world ranking in 2009, but currently ranks 106e echelon and finished with a record of 1-7 this season.
She holds the women’s mark for the most consecutive Grand Slams played at 69, a streak that began in 2007 in Melbourne.