Djokovic: ItÈs a process that takes time
Originally published on 30/05/18 00:00
For the second straight round Novak Djokovic faced a qualifier, when he met Jaume Munar. The Spaniard, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy, had defeated David Ferrer over five sets in the first round. However, today the Spaniard was unable to offer as much resistance and Djokovic won 7-6(1) 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes.
“He gets a lot of balls back, and he's ten years younger than me,” said Djokovic of his opponent, “which is amazing to say and experience.”
Djokovic who is coming back after elbow surgery spoke about his level of play “At the moment I'm not playing at the level I wish to, but at the same time I understand that it is the process that obviously takes time.”
“The more matches I play, the better it is. The more I win, of course, the better it is.”
Djokovic meets Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round and this time the Serb will be the underdog. Agut is seeded No 13.
Elsewhere on day four at Roland Garros
Men
Two men who top the list for the most tour level match wins in 2018 were both in action today, No 2 seed Alexander Zverev took five sets to defeat Dusan Lajovic and notch up his 32ndmatch win at tour level. Dominic Thiem played Stefanos Tsitsipas. Both players, along with Rafael Nadal are the only men to have won multiple clay court titles in 2018.
No 17 seed Tomas Berdych was defeated by France’s Jeremy Chardy. In a match that lasted 4 hours and 13 minutes, Chardy who won the first two sets in tiebreaks but dropped the next two, took the deciding set 6-2.
No 8 seed David Goffin who came back from 0-2 to beat Robin Haase in five sets on Monday faced French wildcard Corentin Moutet, the youngest man in the draw (19) and RG debutante. Goffin won 7-5 6-0 6-1 in two hours and four minutes.
Grigor Dimitrov took four hours and 19 minutes to defeat Jared Donaldson 7-6(2) 6-4 4-6 4-6 10-8. 21 year-old Donaldson has yet to defeat a top 5 player, he came close today, but as the match progressed he felt some cramp and even resorting to a couple of underarm serves he was unable to find a way through against the No 4 seed. The victory was Dimitrov’s 50thGrand Slam match win.
Marco Trungelliti will have to drive back to Barcelona tonight. The lucky loser who got a late entry into the draw and stole the headlines with his 1000 km drive to Paris on Sunday, was defeated in the second round today by Italian Marco Cecchinato.
Women
Elina Svitolina and Petra Kvitova both came through their second round matches today against Viktoria Kuzmova and Lara Arruabarrena respectively.
Simona Halep found her way back after dropping the first set to defeat Alison Riske 2-6 6-1 6-1. “I felt the nerves. I didn't feel the pressure, because I know that every match is tough at this tournament, so I don't expect anything,” she said. The Romanian who needs to reach the semi-finals to have a chance of retaining her world No 1 ranking plays Taylor Townsend next.
Caroline Wozniacki, also in with a chance of becoming World No 1 at the end of Roland Garros defeated Grand Slam main draw debutante and qualifier Georgina Garcia Perez 6-1 6-0 in 54 minutes.
Naomi Osaka who is seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam (No 21) said when she’s not playing tennis she’s playing a game called Skyrim on her Playstation. “So if I'm ever late to anything, you know why.” She won today and in the third round she will meet Madison Keys.
Heather Watson and German partner Tatjana Maria won their first round doubles match against French wildcards Manon Arcangioli and Sherazad Reix.
Serena and Venus Williams teamed up on court 3 in the women’s doubles to defeat the No 14 seeds, from Japan, Shuko Aoyama and Miyu Kato.
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