Novak Djokovic thrashes Gilles Muller to make third round
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Updated 28/05/2015 at 18:47 GMT
Novak Djokovic remains on course for a first French Open title after he eased past Gilles Muller 6-1 6-4 6-4 to make the third round at Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a shot to Jarkko Nieminen of Finland during their men's singles match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, May 26, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
The world number one is chasing the elusive Grand Slam title in the French capital and the odds-on favourite barely broke a sweat in his routine win over Luxembourg’s Muller.
The Serb was rarely troubled during the opening stanza, dropping just the solitary game, though Simon found some rhythm during the following set, but was powerless as Djokovic continued to dominate.
The top seed wrapped up the set with a near-flawless final set, conceding just four games.
The Serb top seed slipped on the clay during the second set stretched his right groin muscle, calling for the physio at the change of ends after the ninth game.
"Thankfully it's nothing major so it's not a concern for the next match," Djokovic told a news conference.
"It wasn't pleasant with the conditions that were changing today, and I think a little bit of heavier conditions made the court a little bit more wet and it was pretty slippery.
"So I think that's when it happened, I made a couple of slides that were quite, I'd say, unusual, you know, with change of directions.
"And it happened in those dynamic movements, jammed the hip a little bit. Thankfully, it's nothing serious, really. It's going to be fine."
Apart from that it was a straightforward victory as he dropped serve only once.
After converting match point with a service winner he went and shook hands with Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who was watching in the crowd.
Djokovic might pay Ibrahimovic a visit as the Sweden striker plays for PSG in the French Cup final against Ligue 2 side AJ Auxerre at the neighbouring Stade de France on Saturday.
"We are friends. It was great to have him here today. I'm his fan. I love the way he plays football. I know him personally, as well," said Djokovic.
"Of course, that makes us even more closer and I went to watch him. He played for AC Milan and ever since then we are friends and we are in touch and, whenever we can, we watch each other perform."
Djokovic will next face Australian hot prospect Thanasi Kokkinakis with a potential quarter-final clash against nine-times Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal looming.
Reuters
Results from the French Open Men's Singles Round 2 matches on Thursday
Jack Sock (U.S.) beat Pablo Carreno (Spain) 6-7(2) 7-6(4) 6-1 7-6(4)
7-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver (Spain) 6-3 6-2 6-1
Borna Coric (Croatia) beat 18-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 7-5 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-4
Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat 31-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-2 6-4 6-3
Jeremy Chardy (France) beat 16-John Isner (U.S.) 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-3
3-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-2 4-6 6-4 6-1
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 6-1 6-4 6-4
17-David Goffin (Belgium) beat Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-2
Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) beat Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 6-1 5-7 7-6(0) 7-5
6-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 6-4 6-3 6-1
Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia) beat 27-Bernard Tomic (Australia) 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 8-6
23-Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) beat Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-4 6-4 6-7(1) 6-1
Pablo Andujar (Spain) beat 22-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-1 7-6(5) 3-6 3-6 6-4
9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat Andrea Arnaboldi (Italy) 7-6(3) 6-1 6-1
29-Nick Kyrgios (Australia) beat Kyle Edmund (Britain) walkover
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