French Open 2024: Novak Djokovic cruises into third round with straight-sets win over Roberto Carballes Baena
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByOli Gent
Updated 30/05/2024 at 19:02 GMT
Novak Djokovic eased into the third round of the French Open with a comfortable win over Roberto Carballes Baena. The No. 1 seed was at his free-flowing, entertaining best to beat the Spaniard 6-4 6-1 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Serb is looking to add a fourth Roland-Garros crown to the three he has won already in Paris, and he will play either Gael Monfils or Lorenzo Musetti next.
'Special moment' - Djokovic works the crowd with round-the-net winner
Novak Djokovic sailed into the third round of the French Open unscathed after a comfortable straight-sets victory over Roberto Carballes Baena.
The world No. 1 came through 6-4 6-1 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and he was at his brilliant best at times as he continues to build his momentum after a stuttering start to the clay-court season.
A smash putaway teed up two set points and a Carballes Baena forehand into the net at 5-4 converted the first following a cagey first set where both players sought to play on the front foot, stepping inside the baseline and hitting their groundstrokes aggressively.
Djokovic continued his momentum into the second set with an immediate break in the second game, before securing a double-break - which he lost and then restored - at 4-0 and then 5-1.
He doubled his scoreboard advantage with ease, and started the third set as he had done the second, breaking instantaneously before securing another double-break to move up 4-1.
He closed out the match in just over two hours, serving it out and finishing off with another mistake from his opponent, slamming a final forehand into the net.
Djokovic will face the winner of Lorenzo Musetti and Gael Monfils in the next round.
The first service break of the match took a while to come in a first set where both men sought to set out their respective stalls, but it was the top seed Djokovic who looked the more likely to earn that elusive break, piling on the pressure on his opponent's serve.
Initially, Carballes Baena's backhand dropshot was proving a problem, but its threat was quickly snuffed out by the Serb, who raced into a 0-40 lead in his second return game, before the Spaniard dug deep to come from behind and scoop out a cross-court winner close to the net to hold.
A brilliant backhand line winner started off the game at 5-4 in the perfect possible manner for Djokovic, with a smash putaway teeing up two set points, and the first being converted by a Carballes Baena forehand into the net.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/05/30/3978812-80751953-2560-1440.jpg)
'He is the one to beat' - Djokovic wins in straight sets over Carballes Baena
The Spaniard rose off his chair to threaten an early break of his own, but he was quickly quashed by the three-time champion, who had begun to find superb length on his groundstrokes to force his opponent back.
A beautiful backhand pass and a double fault from Carballes Baena gave the top seed two break points, and he took the second as the Spaniard skewed another backhand into the tramlines.
Djokovic was up a double-break two games later, with a ferocious forehand winner followed by another Carballes Baena error to put the Serb 4-0 up.
He was immediately broken back, however, but he restored his double-break in the following game, with the Spaniard double faulting once more.
There was a tinge of angst as he served out the second, with Carballes Baena pinning him back to deuce, but it was another erratic error from the Spaniard that saw him cede the set.
An immediate break at the start of the third had Djokovic almost one-and-a-half feet into the third round, and his showmanship began to come out with a superb shot around the net.
Carballes Baena's frustrations were beginning to grow, and the world No. 1 kept his composure, pressing down on the accelerator and assert full dominance.
He was forced to wait as the Spaniard surived a final service game, but Djokovic calmly saw out his own to move safely into round three.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/05/30/3978732-80750353-2560-1440.jpg)
'The fan helped him!' - Djokovic glares at spectator after taking first set
"Thank you very much for the support," Djokovic said - in French - afterwards. "Thanks for all your support; it’s been a tough three days because it’s been raining so much. It’s wonderful to see so many come out to support under the roof.
"It was a difficult game against Roberto; he’s got a lot of good and precise shots. In the last game of the first set I played really well. At the end of the match I was playing very well, and I am very happy with the performance today."
You can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/6944.png)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/geo/country/flag/large/2203.png)