World No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic completed a straight-sets win at Roland Garros on Tuesday, ensuring the progression of the world's top three to the second round.
This might not seem noteworthy, but the first-round survival of the leading trio has not been a certainty in Paris of late.
Twice in the past decade alone, at least one of the top-three men’s seeds has fallen at the first hurdle.
There were question marks surrounding the top four in 2024, given Djokovic’s lack of match play and form, plus the injury-related Rome withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
However, Sinner and Alcaraz opened their campaigns with straight-sets victories on the tournament’s first two days, and Djokovic joined them in the second round following a 6-4 7-6(2) 6-4 win over France’s Pierre Hugues-Herbert.
“In the moments when it mattered I think I delivered, played a great tiebreak, stayed focused,” Djokovic said.
“I'm glad that I started the way I started, the way I felt on the court. Comparing to the previous weeks of tournaments I played, I felt good, better.
“So I'm moving in a positive direction.”
By the standards of most other players, Djokovic has enjoyed an impressive clay-court season. He reached two semifinals – at the Monte Carlo Masters and last week in Geneva – and has won seven of his 10 matches on the surface.
But Djokovic has set the bar incredibly high, especially after his glittering 2023 in which he won three majors. So far he hasn’t won a title in 2024, just the second time since 2006 he has gone this deep into a season without hoisting a trophy.
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Few would be surprised if that changed in Paris, given the 24-time major champion’s extraordinary ability to elevate his game on the biggest stages.
“I was focused, I was there, I was present… That was something that I was looking for. And where are you going to feel that way if not in Grand Slams?” smiled Djokovic, who next faces Roberto Carballes Baena.
“Grand Slams are the ones that are basically getting me up from the bed every day and knowing that I have to hit the practice courts. I always think about what I can do in Grand Slams.
“So here I am. Hopefully I can have another deep run.”
Djokovic, who last week celebrated his 37th birthday, has not lost his opener at a major since Australian Open 2006. He is 69-0 in Grand Slam first-round matches since then.
Alcaraz is also proving a lock in first-round Slam matches, improving his unbeaten record in these encounters to 13-0 after overwhelming JJ Wolf.
The reigning Wimbledon champion sported a protective sleeve on his arm after battling a muscle edema, stemming from the right forearm injury which forced him to skip Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
Nevertheless, he stormed to a 6-1 6-2 6-1 win against the American.
“I played a really high level. Honestly it feels like I didn't stop playing, and it was great for me to feel like this way in the first match, in the first round, just to get rhythm, to get confidence,” said the No.3 seed, a semifinalist at Roland Garros last year.
“Obviously I still feeling weird, let's say, or afraid to hit every forehand, I mean, 100 per cent. It's still in my mind, but I didn't feel anything after the match, I didn't feel anything, which is really, really good for me.
“So I can say it's full recovered.”
Second seed Sinner was mostly in control during a 6-3 6-3 6-4 win over Christopher Eubanks.
There were murmurs the Italian star would skip Roland Garros to prevent his hip injury veering into chronic territory. But after Monday’s victory, he told reporters “the hip seems good”.
“I said if I played a first-round match, I only play if the hip is 100 per cent,” said the reigning Australian Open champion.
“The general shape is not where I want to be, but it takes time. I had a long period without practice also. So it's all normal. In my mind I know I will struggle, but in the other way, I'm happy to be here.
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“Today was a good day for me, and then we see what I can do in the next rounds.”
Sinner next faces French wildcard Richard Gasquet.