Novak Djokovic is confidently through. © APA/afp / EMMANUEL DUNAND

French Open: Djokovic is booed and wins confidently

Novak Djokovic starts the French Open with a clear victory. The Serb only had a bit of trouble in the third set - and was booed once.

29 May 2023

From: dpa/det

Tennis star Novak Djokovic took the first step towards the sole Grand Slam title record he was aiming for at the French Open. The 36-year-old Serb defeated the American Aleksander Kovacevic 6:3, 6:2, 7:6 (7:1) in Paris on Monday and reached the second round.

After two easy first sets, Djokovic had a little more trouble in the third round and conceded two breaks. In the meantime, the audience on Court Philippe-Chatrier cheered on outsider Kovacevic. After his own break to make it 4:3 in the third set, Djokovic provocatively held his hand to his ear and was booed for it. After the game, the spectators cheered him again.

The world number three wants to perfect his 23rd triumph at a Grand Slam tournament in the absence of the injured defending champion Rafael Nadal. He currently shares the men's record with the Spaniard. In the second round, Djokovic will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.