French Open: Djokovic Untroubled, As Federer Levels Connors’ Record

Novak Djokovic’s bid for an historic Grand Slam enjoyed the perfect French Open start on Monday as Roger Federer celebrated his 50th straight major with a record-equalling 233rd Grand Slam win, Supersport.com reports.

Top seed Djokovic, bidding to become only the third man to hold all four majors at the same time, and the first in 43 years, eased past Italian clay court specialist Potito Starace 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-1.

World Number 1 Djokovic already has the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open crowns under wraps and a first French Open triumph in two weeks’ time would make him the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the sweep.

“Potito is a specialist on this surface but I played well considering it was the first match at this year’s Roland Garros,” said Djokovic, who won rousing applause for conducting his on-court interview in French.

“I hope to go on and get good results, but it’s too early to talk about the final.”

Djokovic, already the holder of the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open titles, has yet to reach a Paris final, having fallen three times at the semifinal stage.

This year, he is scheduled to meet Federer in the last four.

Federer, the 2009 champion and four times runner-up to Rafael Nadal, endured few problems getting past Germany’s Tomas Kamke, the world number 78, winning 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.

The win, achieved on a sixth match point, took him level with Jimmy Connors’ 30-year-old record of 233 Grand Slam match wins.

Monday’s victory was also his 50th against 12 losses at Roland Garros having made his debut as a wild card in 1999, where he went down to Australia’s Pat Rafter in the first round.

Since that time, he has missed just one Grand Slam – the 1999 US Open where he failed to qualify.

“It’s a big record, because that was longevity. Jimmy is obviously one of the greats of all time, and was around for 20 years,” said 16-time Grand Slam title winner, who next faces Adrian Ungur of Romania.

“I have been so successful for such a long time and to already tie that record which is 30 years old is pretty incredible.”

Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt, a former world Number 1, lost 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 to Slovenia’s Blaz Kavcic while Spanish 15th seed Feliciano Lopez retired against French qualifier Florent Serra with a stomach strain.

American 10th seed John Isner, who took six-time champion Nadal to five sets in the first round last year, went through by beating Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.