Novak Djokovic experienced the lowest of lows — pulling out of the French Open after tearing the meniscus in his right knee — and the highest of highs — winning a long-sought Olympic gold medal for Serbia — at Roland-Garros last year. This trip to the site went smoothly, once he got going. Other than some first-set interruptions by the windy, wet weather, the 24-time major champion was unbothered during a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 98th-ranked Mackie McDonald of the United States at Court Philippe-Chatrier in the first round.
“He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him,” said McDonald, a 30-year-old Californian who played college tennis at UCLA and twice has been to the fourth round at Grand Slam tournaments. “He’s able to just do so much. I don’t even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring it up.”
One example: When McDonald earned his first break points, getting to love-40 at 3-2 in the second set, Djokovic came up with three big serves, a 193 kph ace, a 199 kph ace and a 197 kph service winner. Djokovic compiled 32 winners — 18 more than McDonald — and just 20 unforced errors in a match that eventually was played with the lights on and the retractable roof closed.
In the women’s matches, 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff got past Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2 and unseeded American Alycia Parks, ranked 52nd in the world, beat No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. Muchova was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros in 2023. Other winners included the No. 3 seeds Jessica Pegula and Alexander Zverev, and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
But 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded 11th, lost to Cam Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5. Other seeded men were sent home when 18-year-old João Fonseca dispatched No. 30 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and when No. 16 Grigor Dimitrov quit while leading American qualifier Ethan Quinn two sets to one. This is the fourth consecutive major tournament where Dimitrov retired.
Frenchman Gael Monfils advances
Frenchman Gael Monfils rallied from two sets down and beat Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) 6-1 in a match that lasted more than three hours. Monfils was injured on the fifth point of the match when he fell and crashed into a side billboard. World No. 42 Monfils was a point away from breaking the 90th-ranked Dellien’s serve and ended up losing the game and going behind 3-0 in the first set. After dropping the second set, Monfils battled back and, helped by a 19-2 advantage in aces, advanced to the second round.
Brazilian teen secures win in Roland-Garros debut
João Fonseca is making a habit of drawing big crowds at tennis tournaments — and of beating seeded opponents in his Grand Slam debuts. The 18-year-old from Brazil delighted a loud and overflowing group of spectators at the 1,500-capacity Court 7 on Tuesday and won the first French Open match of his nascent career, beating 30th-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Fonseca is the 2023 US Open junior champion and is currently ranked 65th.
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