Djokovic powers through opener; Gauff, Andreeva post facile wins

Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday, while women’s contenders Coco Gauff and Mirra Andreeva successfully got their campaigns under way at a windy Roland Garros.

The 38-year-old Djokovic had little trouble in seeing off 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.

The three-time French Open champion lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid earlier in the clay-court season, but was dominant against McDonald, with his only hiccup coming when he failed to serve out the second set in the eighth game.

The Serb, who withdrew injured before the quarter-finals in 2024, will meet a Frenchman in either Corentin Moutet or Clement Tabur in round two.

US Coco Gauff reacts after a point during her women's singles match against Australia's Olivia Gadecki on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament on Tuesday. AFP

Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev, who saw off American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

World number three Zverev is hoping to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.

His preparation has been far from ideal after his plane was struck by lightning on the journey to Paris following a last-16 loss in Hamburg.

The 19-year-old Tien, who knocked out Daniil Medvedev en route to the Australian Open last 16 in January, was overpowered on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Zverev, who has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last four French Opens, will next face Dutchman Jesper de Jong.

Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing a dramatic clash with Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5.

Russia's Mirra Andreeva reacts during her first round match against Spain's Cristina Bucsa. Reuters

Grigor Dimitrov retired injured for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam tournament, calling it quits due to a leg injury when leading American Ethan Quinn by two sets to one.

Ninth seed Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, started well with an accomplished 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over Serbia’s Laslo Djere.

Miami champion Jakub Mensik came through an entertaining match against Frenchman Alexandre Muller, repeatedly taunting the home crowd during a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 victory.

In the women’s draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff brushed aside Australia’s Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year’s WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.

The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros.

Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells and recovered well after falling 3-0 down to Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the first set.

The 18-year-old quickly overturned the double-break deficit and eventually cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the world number 98.

Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, will play American Ashlyn Krueger in the second round on Thursday.

Third seed Jessica Pegula also made serene progress with a 6-2, 6-4 success against Romania’s Anca Todoni as the American returned to Roland Garros after missing the 2024 edition due to injuries.

Two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka hammered Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer, who will retire after Wimbledon, 6-0, 6-0 on Court 6, while Magdalena Frech knocked out three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Cameron Norrie ousted former world number one Daniil Medvedev in a marathon five-set first round match at the French Open on Tuesday.

Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in just under four hours.

British number one Norrie, ranked 81, threw his racquet in the air in delight as he claimed his first win in five meetings with the 11th-seeded Russian.

Norrie had battled back from a break down in the decider, surviving after Medvedev had served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set.

Norrie said: “Playing Daniil is not easy. It was always going to be a tricky match for me. It was just pure emotion at the end and pure instinct.

Agencies