French Open 2018: Novak Djokovic into third round after straight sets win

There were times when Djokovic struggled, but the Serb was still too good for Jaume Munar, a 21-year-old qualifier ranked No 155 in the world

Djokovic is safely through to the third round (Getty)

Andy Murray may not be here at the French Open but the Scot has by no means been forgotten. Novak Djokovic revealed here on Wednesday that he had been in touch with Murray, who is recovering from hip surgery and is still hoping to be back in time for the grass-court season.

Djokovic and Murray are members of the Association of Tennis Professionals’ Player Council, which represents the interests of the players. “We had a meeting and he was on the conference call,” Djokovic said. “We got to have a FaceTime as well. He was very committed. He was part of that meeting for three or four hours.

“He obviously has two children now. Life at home for sure for him is different and I can understand him. I can only imagine how difficult it is for him, as well, to deal with the circumstances of his injury.

“That’s something that I can relate to. I have had quite a similar situation, although his injury takes more time, obviously. Hopefully we can see him playing on grass, because that’s where, I guess, he wants to play.”

The former world number one was far too good for the 21-year-old qualifier (Getty)

By his own admission Djokovic is still playing well below his best following elbow surgery earlier this year. However, the12-times Grand Slam champion is through to the third round here thanks to a second successive straight-sets victory.

There were times when Djokovic struggled, but the Serb was still too good for Jaume Munar, a 21-year-old qualifier ranked No 155 in the world. Djokovic won 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 to earn a third-round meeting with another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

When Djokovic ruled the world he was a model of consistency, but after taking off the last six months of 2017 because of his elbow problem and then opting for surgery he has still to scale his former heights, although his recent run to the semi-finals in Rome suggested a turn for the better.

Munar, who trains at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Majorca, had come back from two sets down to beat his fellow countryman David Ferrer in the first round and pushed Djokovic hard throughout.

The Serb secured his progress into the third round (AFP)

The former world No 1, who has shortened his service action in response to his elbow problems, dropped his serve three times, served five double faults and made 33 unforced errors.

Djokovic let slip a 5-2 lead in the opening set but played a good tie-break, winning it 7-1. He broke early in the second set and won four of the last five games in the third to complete his victory in two hours and 18 minutes.

Dusan Lajovic, Djokovic’s fellow Serb, had Alexander Zverev in trouble for long periods before the No 2 seed won 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 after nearly three and a half hours. Zverev’s frustrations were evident when he dropped serve to go a set and a break down, hurled his racket to the floor and then broke it across his knee. Lajovic went up two sets to one after breaking for a 4-3 lead in the third set, but from that moment onwards Zverev took control.

Grigor Dimitrov, the No 4 seed, went even closer to defeat against Jared Donaldson. The Bulgarian and the American were on court for four hours and 19 minutes before Dimitrov won 6-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8. Donaldson hit underarm serves as he struggled with cramp in the latter stages but still managed to break back after Dimitrov served for the match at 8-7.

Djokovic is working his way back to his best (Getty)

Kei Nishikori was also taken the distance and needed three hours to beat France’s Benoit Paire 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The 28-year-old Japanese is playing his first Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon after missing the US and Australian Opens with a wrist injury.

Marco Trungelliti’s remarkable tournament ended in a 6-1, 7-6, 6-1 defeat to Italy’s Marco Cecchinato. The 28-year-old Argentinian was unable to rediscover the form he had found in the first round against Bernard Tomic, despite the fact that his preparations had been less chaotic.

On the day before he played Tomic, Trungelliti had driven 650 miles from Barcelona in a small hire car with his brother, mother and 88-year-old grandmother in order to take up his place as a lucky loser. He will leave here, nevertheless, with prize money of 79,000 euros (about £39,000), which more than doubled his earnings for this year.

It was a good day for two Frenchmen. Gilles Simon beat the No 12 seed, Sam Querrey, 1-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1, while Jeremy Chardy beat Tomas Berdych 7-6, 7-6, 1-6, 5-7, 6-2 despite letting slip a two-set lead.

The match was stopped because of darkness on Tuesday evening with Chardy firmly in control, but Berdych, the No 17 seed, who had won all five of their previous matches, fought back in spirited fashion. In the decider, however, Chardy broke twice to secure his victory.

“At two sets all, it was difficult in my head, and physically, too,” Chardy said afterwards. “I fought hard. All my body was shaking.”