Roger Federer's bid for a record 17th major tennis title began with another landmark on Monday, when he won his 233rd match at a grand slam event, equalling the achievement of Jimmy Connors.
Federer beat German Tobias Kamke 6-2 7-5 6-3 in the first round of the French Open on Monday. He will now meet Adrian Ungur who beat Argentine David Nalbandian 6-3 5-7 6-4 7-5.
Women’s world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was lucky to advance after being five points away from defeat against Italian Alberta Brianti, but turned the tables to scrape through 6-7 6-4 6-2.
Easy going
Novak Djokovic had a calm start to his bid to complete his grand slam collection and become the first man in 43 years to hold all four titles at the same time. He beat Italian Potito Starace and won 7-6 6-3 6-1.
Serbian Djokovic will next play Slovenian Blaz Kavcic who had a hard-fought, 7-6 6-3 6-7 6-3 win over Lleyton Hewitt, who needed a wildcard to get into the main draw this time.
Defending champion Li Na raced through her opening match, thrashing Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-1
Indians on clay
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have been seeded sixth in the men’s doubles draw of the French Open while Leander Paes and new partner Alexander Peya start as the seventh seeds.
Indians on clay
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have been seeded sixth in the men’s doubles draw of the French Open while Leander Paes and new partner Alexander Peya start as the seventh seeds.
Bhupathi and Bopanna face the French pair of Marc Gicquel and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the first round. Seventh-ranked Paes and Peya meet Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini in the opening round Wednesday.