The tight fist of Novak Djokovic, who wants to be the Grand Slam champion again. Photo: Thomas SAMSON / AFP.
Serbian Novak Djokovic, world No. 1, qualified for the third round of Roland Garros after beating the Slovakian in three sets alex molcan (N.38) of 6-2, 6-3 and 7-6 (7/4), this Wednesday in Paris.
Defending champion Roland Garros has reached the third round, where he will play against Slovenian Aljaz Bedene (N.195) without giving up a set in the first two games.
However, Molcan, who is now coached by Marian Vajda, Djokovic’s longtime coach until recently, gave ‘Nole’ more trouble than Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka on debut.
Novak Djokovic wants to repeat in Paris. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman.
Although Molcan was able to take the Serb to a tie break in the third set, Djokovic never suffered for victory, thanks to his 10 aces and 40 wins.
Zverev suffered against Baez
German Alexander Zverev (N.3) raised a match point against Argentine tennis player Sebastián Báez (N.36) to win Wednesday’s match 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6 -2 and 7 -5, and qualify for the third round at Roland Garros.
Semifinalist last year on clay in Paris, German tennis player will face American Brandon Nakashima (N.75) in the third round.
The young Báez, 21, showed he was in a good moment of form – he was a quarter -finalist in Lyon last week, lost to the next champion, British Cameron Norrie – and broke Zverev’s serve in first game of the match and he repeated in the fifth to close out the first set in 35 minutes.
Alexander Zverev’s relief after beating Argentine Báez. Photo: EFE/EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK.
Báez continued the reduction very well in the second set and after two more breaks he went 0-4, to end the scoring set despite Zverev’s reaction.
Against the ropes, Zverev reacted and with a great serve equalized the match, recording the next two sets without giving up a ‘break’.
Everything seemed fine for the German, but Báez did not say his last word: in the 10th game, with 4-5 in his favor and service for the German, the Argentine had the ball to close the game, but he was wasted. ito.
An error that would end up paying dearly against a quality rival of Zverev, who achieved the ‘break’ in the ensuing game and closed out against his serve for the first time he had after 3h36 minutes of intense fighting.
The audience of Philippe Chatrier and Zverev himself fired at the Argentine with a standing ovation, as a gesture of great tennis displayed by Báez, who at least would take that as a consolation for his first visit to Paris.
Surprise from a Spaniard
Seeded N.13, the American Taylor Fritz He was eliminated on Wednesday in the second round of Roland Garros by Spaniard Bernabé Zapata, N.131 in the ATP and from the qualifiers, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and 6-3.
The California tennis player, No. 14 in the ranking and who in March achieved the biggest success of his career after winning the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final, made several mistakes (43) against a Zapata who did not miss the chance to advance to third round of Roland Garros for the first time, after debuting last year in Paris with a defeat in the first round.
Zapata, 25, will face another American, John Isner, No. 26 in the world rankings, for a spot in the round of 16.
With information from agencies
The Spanish Bernabe Zapata Miralles, from qualy. Photo: EFE/EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON.
Source: Clarin
