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Novak eyeing second 'Djoko Slam'

Paris -World No 1 Novak Djokovic said that he "can make history again" as he looks to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time, after easing into round two at the French Open on Monday.

Djokovic laid down an early marker at Roland Garros, powering past promising Polish youngster Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 in his opening match.

The Serbian is one of only three men, along with Don Budge and Rod Laver, to have won four straight Slam tournaments, after his first, and so far only, French Open title in 2016.

Now he can follow in Australian great Laver's footsteps by achieving the feat twice with victory in the final in Paris on June 9.

"I put myself in a situation where I can actually make history of tennis again and obviously I have very high ambitions for this tournament," said Djokovic.

"It's not a secret. But at the same time, it's not the first time that I'm facing these kind of circumstances. It's not the first Grand Slam in my career. I have played so many.

"I know it's two weeks potentially long, and I just need to be in my lockdown mentally, and just do things that have worked for me in the past."

Twelve months ago, Djokovic dropped out of the world's top 20 after a shock quarter-final loss to Marco Cecchinato at Roland Garros and even pondered skipping Wimbledon, but he has instead reclaimed his place at the top of the game.

He won his second Wimbledon last July and followed it up with back-to-back triumphs at the 2018 US Open and the Australian Open earlier this year.

"It's quite (a) different situation for me now than it was 12 months ago, obviously. Very different," the 32-year-old added.

A single break in the opening game of the match proved enough for Djokovic to take the first set, and the Serb raced through the second in under half an hour.

The 22-year-old Hurkacz, who has claimed three wins over top-10 players this season, had no answer as Djokovic sealed a second-round spot after another dominant set on his first match point.

"I'm focused, I'm determined, and sharp from the blocks. That's what happened," he said.

"Even though I never played him (before), never faced him in (an) official match, I still felt he can be a great threat if I allow him to play his tennis."

Next up for Djokovic is Swiss world No 104 Henri Laaksonen for a place in the last 32.

"I don't know too much about him, to be honest. I never played against him, and I did watch him play maybe once or twice.

"I'm going to have to do my homework and see what happens."

Results from the second day of the French Open on Monday (x denotes seeding):

Men

First round

Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2

Henri Laaksonen (SUI) bt Pedro Martinez (ESP) 6-1, 6-0, 7-6 (7/4)

Salvatore Caruso (ITA) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Gilles Simon (FRA x26) bt Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN x20) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4

Radu Albot (MDA) bt Tennys Sandgren (USA) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-1

Lloyd Harris (RSA) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

Borna Coric (CRO x13) bt Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4

Dominic Thiem (AUT x4) bt Tommy Paul (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt Rudolf Molleker (GER) 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/2)

Pablo Cuevas (URU) bt Maxime Janvier (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) bt Alexandre Muller (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x32) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0

Stan Wawrinka (SUI x24) bt Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3

Cristian Garin (CHI) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 7-6 (9/7)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Alex De Minaur (AUS x21) bt Bradley Klahn (USA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2

Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-0, 6-1

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS x12) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5

Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO x15) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3

Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Alexey Vatutin (RUS) 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4

Guido Pella (ARG x19) bt Guido Andreozzi (ARG) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 1-6, 6-1

Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-0, 6-7 (7/9), 5-7, 6-3, 6-4

Yannick Maden (GER) bt Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) 7-6 (7/0), 7-5, 6-3

Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6-2, 6-1, 6-3

Women

First round

Serena Williams (USA x10) bt Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0

Sofia Kenin (USA) bt Giulia Gatto-Monticone (ITA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2

Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE x25) bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0

Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Alison Riske (USA) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5

Danielle Collins (USA) bt Tatjana Maria (GER) 6-0, 6-2

Ashleigh Barty (AUS x8) bt Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-3, 6-3

Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) bt Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU x30) 6-4, 6-4

Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)

Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov (ESP) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-4, 6-2

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) bt Kaja Juvan (SLO) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5

Jennifer Brady (USA) bt Ivana Jorovic (SRB) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5

Polona Hercog (SLO) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR x32) 4-6, 6-2, 8-6

Rebecca Peterson (SWE) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3, 7-5

Donna Vekic (CRO x23) bt Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 6-2, 6-4

Johanna Konta (GBR x26) bt Antonia Lottner (GER) 6-4, 6-4

Lauren Davis (USA) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 6-2, 6-4

Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-4, 6-3

Kiki Bertens (NED x4) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 6-3, 6-4

Shelby Rogers (USA) bt Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-3, 6-3

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x28) bt Dayana Yastremska (UKR) 2-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-0

Elise Mertens (BEL x20) bt Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Diane Parry (FRA) bt Vera Lapko (BLR) 6-2, 6-4

Mandy Minella (LUX) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-4, 6-2

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x12) bt Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 6-1, 6-4

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x13) 0-6, 6-3, 6-3

Zarina Diyas (KAZ) bt Audrey Albie (FRA) 6-2, 6-2

Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-1, 6-1

Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Julia Goerges (GER x18) 7-5, 6-1

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