Novak Djokovic experienced the lowest lows and was pulled out of the French opening after ripping Meniscus on his right knee and won a longtime Olympic gold medal in Serbia last year at Roland Garos.
This year, aside from the initial set interruption and lengthy debate due to windy rain, the 24-time major champions won the US 98th place Mackie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round on Tuesday in the first round.
“He makes it look like a video game,” said McDonald, a 30-year-old Californian who played college tennis at UCLA, who competed in the fourth round of the Grand Slam tournament. “He’s just that good. I don’t think he was playing the best tennis or the best level. But if I pushed him to another point, he’d raise it.”
One example: When McDonald scored his first breakpoint and reached Love 40 3-2 in the second set, Djokovic came up with three big serves, a 120 mph (193 kph) ace, a 123 mph ace, and a 122 mph service winner.
Jjokovic edited 32 winners (18 more than McDonald’s), and was eventually played with the lights on, with 20 forced errors in matches where the retractable roof was closed.
“I’m a competitor and I’m losing my stab wound,” McDonald said.
Djokovic, who turned 38 last weekend and just won his 100th career title, walked to the arena and was identified by the stadium announcers by the total number of slam trophies, the three he won at the French Open, and the money of the summer games he earned “here in Paris.”
“I still remember last year’s Olympic Games,” Djokovic said afterwards. “It was the last time I was here. The emotions were very strong.”
Does medals mean so much to him?
“I don’t have a medal with me, but I have a picture of the medal in my bag,” he said. “The medal is the same as my dad. My dad likes trophies more than me, so I gave him mine.”
Other winners included third seed Alexander Zverev, but 2021 US Open champion Danil Medvedev lost to Cameron Norry 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 in nearly four hours as he came in 11th place.
Who is playing for Roland Garos on Wednesday? The second round begins on the fourth day and will have a schedule that includes defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and two finalist Casperudo.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
