Novak Djokovic is off to a strong start as he defends his French Open title, securing a victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Novak Djokovic’s campaign to defend his Roland Garros title got off to a solid, albeit unspectacular, start as he secured a straight-sets victory over French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The reigning champion appeared undeterred by any concerns about his form, confidently overcoming Herbert with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 triumph at the French Open on Tuesday.

As the top seed, Djokovic patiently waited for the night match on the third day of the tournament before launching his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, displaying his prowess to swiftly dispose of French wild card Herbert on Court Philippe Chatrier. Despite not having reached a final this year and facing the threat of his world No 1 ranking being overtaken by Jannik Sinner, Djokovic approached Roland Garros with a mix of “low expectations and high hopes” following some uncharacteristic defeats. However, he demonstrated fine form against Herbert, who offered solid resistance but ultimately failed to unsettle the Serbian powerhouse, as Djokovic claimed victory in what marked his 72nd win out of 74 first-round matches in Grand Slam tournaments. The only moment of tension arose in the third set when Djokovic took a tumble near the net, receiving unexpected boos from the typically amicable Parisian crowd as he composed himself.

Meanwhile, in a nod to family history, two-time runner-up Casper Ruud achieved a belated revenge by defeating Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves in consecutive sets. The victory held added significance as Meligeni Alves’ uncle, Fernando Meligeni, had previously overcome Ruud’s father, Christian, in the final of the 1995 Swedish Open in Bastad. Embracing his recent success in Geneva, the world No 7 and three-time Grand Slam finalist displayed confidence on the clay courts of Paris, serving with nearly 90% accuracy as he swiftly overcame the Brazilian opponent in under two hours. Ruud, a finalist in the two preceding French Open tournaments, seized control of the match, earning break points and securing a noteworthy 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory, firmly establishing his dominance.