The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a record-extending 25th major title as he picked up form late in the first set to defeat Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round of the ongoing French Open 2024 on Thursday.
Aiming for his fourth trophy on the Parisian clay, the 37-year-old tennis star exhibited moments of his best tennis to overcome Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
The tightly contested first set concluded with Djokovic producing aggressive baseline play, stepping in on returns, and moving the Spaniard from corner to corner to secure a key break at 5-4.
Djokovic continued his momentum with superb ball-striking, quickly jumping to a double break 4-0 lead in the second set.
“I’m glad that I came through the opening [two] rounds in straight sets. Again at the beginning, in the first set, I was challenged. He was playing very well, aggressive from the start. It took me a little bit of time to start swinging through the ball a bit more loose. Crucial break to clinch the first set. After that, the second and third set really went my way,” Djokovic said as quoted by ATP.
Djokovic, who must reach the final to have a chance of defeating Jannik Sinner and retaining World No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, received a standing ovation from the crowd in the first game of the third set when he skillfully hit the ball around the net post in response to Carballes Baena’s drop shot.
The Serbian won 55 percent of his return points and broke Carballes Baena’s serve seven times to move to 3-0 in their ATP Head2Head. All three of their encounters have occurred at the Grand Slam level.
The defending champion will next face either Gael Monfils or 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic has a 19-0 record against the Frenchman and has won four of his five meetings with Musetti, including last month in Monte-Carlo, where the 98-time tour-level champion avenged his 2023 loss to the Italian.
