Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open.

The 21-year-old fired nine aces on the way to claiming the win after a lengthy rain delay on the hardcourts in North Carolina.

Diagnosed as deaf at the age of two, Lee cannot hear calls from the line judges or the umpire and relies on signals and gestures for the information.

"People made fun of me for my disability. They told me I shouldn't be playing," Lee said after the match.

"It was definitely difficult, but my friends and family helped me get through. I wanted to show everyone that I could do this.

"My message for people who are hearing impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything."

Next up for Lee is a second-round meeting with third seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Tuesday.

Former world number one Andy Murray, continuing his comeback from hip surgery, fell 7-6(8) 7-5 to Tennys Sandgren in a first round match that was delayed by rain for several hours.

Murray battled hard to save three set points in the tiebreak before Sandgren converted the fourth to end the 74-minute first set when the Briton's volley found the net.

Murray was broken in the opening game of the second set and fell 3-0 behind before breaking back to leave the set poised at 5-5.

But the 28-year-old American broke back and then served out the match to set up a second round clash with Canadian second seed Denis Shapovalov.

Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open.

Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP Tour main draw match on Monday when the South Korean defeated Henri Laaksonen 7-6(4) 6-1 in the first round of the Winston-Salem Open. The 21-year-old fired nine aces on the way to claiming the win after a lengthy rain delay on the hardcourts in North Carolina. Diagnosed as deaf at the age of two, Lee cannot hear calls from the line judges or the umpire and relies on signals and gestures for the information. "People made fun of me for my disability. They told me I shouldn't be playing," Lee said after the match. "It was definitely difficult, but my friends and family helped me get through. I wanted to show everyone that I could do this. "My message for people who are hearing impaired is to not be discouraged. If you try hard, you can do anything." Next up for Lee is a second-round meeting with third seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland on Tuesday. Former world number one Andy Murray, continuing his comeback from hip surgery, fell 7-6(8) 7-5 to Tennys Sandgren in a first round match that was delayed by rain for several hours. Murray battled hard to save three set points in the tiebreak before Sandgren converted the fourth to end the 74-minute first set when the Briton's volley found the net. Murray was broken in the opening game of the second set and fell 3-0 behind before breaking back to leave the set poised at 5-5. But the 28-year-old American broke back and then served out the match to set up a second round clash with Canadian second seed Denis Shapovalov.

South Korea's Lee Duck-hee becomes first deaf player to win an ATP main draw match

Novak Djokovic's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-del-potro-prevails-in-five-set-battle-with-nishioka-222988">French Open</a> has been something of a magical mystery tour so far and it will continue into round three after a convincing win over Swiss Henri Laaksonen on Thursday.

The 32-year-old world number one will face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso on Saturday - his third consecutive match against a player he has never previously faced.

His first round saw him ease past Poland's Hubert Hurkacz and on Thursday he got his first look at 104th-ranked Laaksonen -- swatting him aside in clinical fashion 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

It will be another step into the unknown, so to speak, when he lines up against 147th-ranked Caruso.

"It's really interesting, the third match in a row that I get to play against someone that I have never faced before in a match," Djokovic, bidding to win a second French title and hold all four Grand Slams simultaneously for the second time, told reporters.

"But that's good because there is a shift of generations and new players coming up. Again, I'm going to have to do my homework, do analysis on him,'' Djokovic said.

"I watched him play a little bit today when I was waiting for my match. He came from qualifications. He won what, now, five matches? So there is a lot of confidence," added Djokovic.

It has certainly been a gentle start for Djokovic, as it has been for his title rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with that trio winning all 18 sets they have played so far.

Djokovic dropped only three points on serve in the opening set against Laaksonen -&nbsp;the lesser-known Swiss in the draw after Federer and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

There was a brief loss of focus when Djokovic was broken to love midway through the second set but he was quickly back in the groove to move two sets ahead.

He then polished off the third set in 24 minutes.

"I played as much as I need to play to win in straight sets. Didn't spend too much time on the court," the 15-times <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/french-open-dominic-thiem-battles-through-to-third-round-defeating-alexander-bublik-222837">Grand Slam</a> champion said.

"So all is going in the right direction. It's still early in the tournament, you know, but I do have high ambitions for this tournament. Grand Slams are the tournaments where I want to play my best, and hopefully, get a chance to fight for the title," Djokovic added.

Novak Djokovic's French Open has been something of a magical mystery tour so far and it will continue into round three after a convincing win over Swiss Henri Laaksonen on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic's French Open has been something of a magical mystery tour so far and it will continue into round three after a convincing win over Swiss Henri Laaksonen on Thursday. The 32-year-old world number one will face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso on Saturday - his third consecutive match against a player he has never previously faced. His first round saw him ease past Poland's Hubert Hurkacz and on Thursday he got his first look at 104th-ranked Laaksonen -- swatting him aside in clinical fashion 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. It will be another step into the unknown, so to speak, when he lines up against 147th-ranked Caruso. "It's really interesting, the third match in a row that I get to play against someone that I have never faced before in a match," Djokovic, bidding to win a second French title and hold all four Grand Slams simultaneously for the second time, told reporters. "But that's good because there is a shift of generations and new players coming up. Again, I'm going to have to do my homework, do analysis on him,'' Djokovic said. "I watched him play a little bit today when I was waiting for my match. He came from qualifications. He won what, now, five matches? So there is a lot of confidence," added Djokovic. It has certainly been a gentle start for Djokovic, as it has been for his title rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with that trio winning all 18 sets they have played so far. Djokovic dropped only three points on serve in the opening set against Laaksonen - the lesser-known Swiss in the draw after Federer and 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka. There was a brief loss of focus when Djokovic was broken to love midway through the second set but he was quickly back in the groove to move two sets ahead. He then polished off the third set in 24 minutes. "I played as much as I need to play to win in straight sets. Didn't spend too much time on the court," the 15-times Grand Slam champion said. "So all is going in the right direction. It's still early in the tournament, you know, but I do have high ambitions for this tournament. Grand Slams are the tournaments where I want to play my best, and hopefully, get a chance to fight for the title," Djokovic added.

French open: Novak Djokovic cruises into third round after convincing win over Henri Laaksonen

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South Korea's Lee Duck-hee becomes first deaf player to win an ATP main draw match

French open: Novak Djokovic cruises into third round after convincing win over Henri Laaksonen