Novak Djokovic started his French Open title defence with a strong if not spectacular victory over house hope Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Serbia‘s Djokovic, 37, upped his stage when it mattered to win 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in Tuesday’s night time session at Roland Garros.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will take sole possession of the file of most main titles with a fourth victory on the Paris clay.
However he has come into the occasion in unsure kind.
Djokovic has endured a turbulent season, having been removed from his lofty heights and never but reaching a ultimate.
Taking part in in Geneva final week was an indication he needed to construct rhythm and confidence earlier than heading to the French Open, saying when he arrived that he had “low expectations however excessive hopes”.
Due to this fact, it was intriguing to see how Djokovic would look in opposition to 142nd-ranked wildcard Herbert.
Djokovic’s motion on the baseline didn’t at all times look snug and lacked some sharpness in his serving.
Nevertheless, he typically returned effectively and was nonetheless capable of choose his moments to strike – most notably in a commanding tie-break.
This 12 months, Djokovic has appeared to lack among the fireplace which has usually fuelled his success however his demonstrative celebrations as he clinched the two-set lead indicated his pleasure.
Probabilities had been uncommon within the third set earlier than he piled on the strain once more in what proved to be the ultimate recreation.
A shocking winner at deuce teed up a primary match level and Herbert blinked handy it over with a double fault.
Djokovic’s reward is a second-round assembly in opposition to Spain’s world quantity 63 Roberto Carballes Baena.
Herbert already had ‘greatest win of 2024’
No matter occurred within the match in opposition to Djokovic, Herbert had already seen his “greatest win of 2024”.
Herbert’s child son Leandre had pancreatic surgical procedure lasting 10 hours in April, after being recognized with congenital hyperinsulinism – a genetic dysfunction which causes abnormally excessive ranges on insulin.
Shortly afterwards, Herbert revealed the ordeal his household had been by way of and stated Leandre was “cured”.
The household’s story has touched the tennis neighborhood and maybe offered the 33-year-old with an additional layer of help in opposition to Djokovic.
The Parisian followers at all times fervently get behind their house gamers, however had been buoyed by seeing Herbert hold Djokovic on serve for many of the second and third units.
The way by which he handed over victory was merciless. The sympathetic groans had been rapidly drowned out by a booming ovation as he disappeared again to the locker room.
