Patient Djokovic Proceeds to Next Round
PARIS: World number one Novak Djokovic, bidding to win a first French Open and become just the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam, beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday to reach the second round.
The top-seeded Serb will face Guido Pella of Argentina for a place in the last 32. "Thanks to all the fans for waiting. It was a good match, David is a good player and has a lot of talent," said Djokovic. "I'm happy to win and hope to continue like this."
Djokovic, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2012, had waited patiently to get his first round underway after heavy rain had robbed the schedule of more than four hours of play.
But Goffin, who made the last 16 in 2012 after coming through qualifying, was not overawed by the challenge but lacked the firepower to consistently trouble the world number one.
After taking the first set on the tie-break, the 26-year-old Australian Open champion was 2-1 up with a break in the second before Goffin, the world number 58, levelled for 4-4.
The Serb clawed that break back immediately in the ninth game before going on to secure a two-sets lead.
A break in the 11th game of the third was all Djokovic needed to secure victory in the next game with a swooping forehand.
