Novak Djokovic began his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title with a first-round victory at the French Open, defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4 on Tuesday night. Despite the straight-set win, Djokovic acknowledged his performance wasn’t flawless, maintaining “low expectations” for the tournament.
“I don’t want to get too excited,” Djokovic remarked. “I thought it was a good performance for me. Solid. Of course, I could have done better, I think, on return games, but also credit to him for serving very well, for changing things up.”
Djokovic has faced challenges this season, reflected in his 15-6 match record and absence from any finals appearances this year. He admitted, “Grand Slams are the ones that are basically getting me up from the bed every day. Knowing that I have to hit the practice courts, I always think about what I can do in Grand Slams. So here I am. Hopefully I can have another deep run.”
As a three-time French Open champion, Djokovic needs to reach the final to retain his No. 1 ranking. This match marked an improvement from his recent performance at the Geneva Open, where he lost in the semifinals. His latest victory lasted 2 1/2 hours.
Discussing his approach, Djokovic said, “Low expectations and high hopes. Anything but a title, for me, is not satisfactory.”
Facing Herbert, a 33-year-old Frenchman ranked 142nd and more renowned for his doubles play, Djokovic encountered moments of tension. The French crowd supported Herbert, calling his name and chanting encouragements. They jeered Djokovic when he toweled off after a fall, adding to the match’s intensity.
Djokovic watched Rafael Nadal’s first-round exit against Alexander Zverev from the stands, and on Tuesday, he competed in a 60-degree (15 Celsius) evening. Despite some frustration, he maintained focus, particularly in a key tiebreak.
“In the moments when it mattered, I think I delivered. Played a great tiebreak. Stayed focused,” Djokovic said. “I’m glad that I started the way I started, the way I felt on the court. Comparing to the previous weeks of tournaments I played, I felt good. Better. So I’m moving in a positive direction. Yeah, it’s just the beginning.”
Herbert, whose career singles highlight is reaching the third round of a major, put up a fight, with winner totals at 37 for Herbert and 29 for Djokovic. Djokovic’s highlight was a closed-stance sliding backhand winner to earn match point, converted when Herbert double-faulted.
The significant statistic is Djokovic’s unbroken streak in opening matches at Grand Slam events, now 69-0 since starting his career with a 3-2 first-round record.
Djokovic’s next opponent will be 63rd-ranked Roberto Carballés Baena of Spain.
Other notable matches on Tuesday included wins by last year’s French Open finalist Casper Ruud, who defeated Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, and past major champions Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka overpowered Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2, and Rybakina beat Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-3.
Sabalenka, aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to win the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the same season, said, “I’m just trying to separate myself from all those facts. I mean, I know that if I’ll be able to focus on myself and I’ll be able to fight for every point and try to find a solution in each game, I will be able to win these big tournaments. But I just try to take it step-by-step.”
The first round concluded with rain delays affecting most courts, except for the two main courts with retractable roofs.
