French Open 2024: Defending champion Novak Djokovic enters third round with straight-sets victory

Defending champion Novak Djokovic entered the third round of ongoing French Open 2024 with straight-sets victory overSpain's Roberto Carballes Baena on Thursday (May 30). Djokovic beat Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in second round to keep his quest for historic 25th grand slam on the course.

This is the 19th consecutive time that the Serbian has entered the last 32 at the Roland Garros. He'll next face Frenchman Gael Monfils or 30th seed Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. The 37-year-old holds 19-0 record against Monfils and 4-1 against Musetti.

The first set against Baena was closely fought with Djokovic dropping his opening service game before slumping to 4-4. The 24-time grand slam winner, however, bounced back in style, winning 14 of the next 17 games to take the set 6-4.

"It was a difficult match against Roberto. He hit a lot of very good and precise shots," said Djokovic.

"The last game of the first set I played really well and started to play at a higher level. At the end of the match I was then playing very well."

Zverev ousts Goffin

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who effectively ended Rafael Nadal's French Open career in the first round, defeated Goffin 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2.

Zverev arrived in Paris on the back of winning the Rome Open title and is the only player to reach the semi-finals of the last three French Open tournaments.

On Friday, a Berlin court will hear an appeal by Zverev against a fine for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

He received a 450,000-euro ($487,000) fine in October but appealed the ruling earlier this year, leading to a full trial.

The 27-year-old is not required to attend the proceedings and insisted on the eve of the tournament that he "believes in the German system".

On Thursday, he refused to further discuss the case.

"I have said everything before the tournament," he said.

After only nine singles matches were played after a Wednesday washout, 55 second round ties were scheduled on Thursday.

Amongst early winners were world number two Sabalenka who fired 27 winners past Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima to win 6-2, 6-2.

(With input from agencies)