Defending champion Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round of the French Open on Thursday, extending his remarkable streak of reaching the last 32 at Roland Garros to 19 consecutive years. The 37-year-old Serbian maestro dispatched Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2, in a dominant display that showcased his unwavering class.
Djokovic, who is chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, will next face either Frenchman Gael Monfils or Italian 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti. The Serb holds an unblemished 19-0 record against Monfils and has defeated Musetti four times in five meetings. However, Musetti gave Djokovic a significant scare at the 2021 French Open, winning the first two sets before retiring injured in the decider.
Despite dropping his opening service game against the 63rd-ranked Carballes Baena, Djokovic quickly regained control of the match. From 4-4 in the first set, he reeled off 14 of the last 17 games, overwhelming his opponent with an impressive array of 43 winners.
Djokovic's victory was a testament to his enduring dominance on clay. He has now won 86 matches at Roland Garros, second only to Rafael Nadal's 105. The Serb is also aiming to become the first man in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slams twice.
Tags: #FrenchOpen, #NovakDjokovic, #RobertoCarballesBaena, #GaelMonfils, #LorenzoMusetti
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