Serbian sets up clash versus Grigor Dimitrov, who beat World No 1 at Madrid Masters earlier this month
Novak Djokovic will meet rising star Grigor Dimitrov in a cracker of a third-round tie at the French Open after dispatching Guido Pella for the loss of only four games.
With heavy rain disrupting play at Roland Garros, it was not surprising the World No 1 was keen to get off Court Philippe Chatrier as soon as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
That’s for you! Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks to the crowd after winning against Argentina's Guido Pella during a French Open second round match at Roland Garros in Paris yesterday. PIC/AFP
And Argentinian Pella, ranked 83, proved little obstacle as Djokovic won 11 games in a row at one stage and 14 of the last 16 in a 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 victory that lasted an hour and 26 minutes.
Djokovic, who had been given a stern test by David Goffin in Round One, can expect a much tougher time against 26th seed Dimitrov tomorrow.
The Bulgarian, a comfortable winner over Lucas Pouille yesterday, has long been tipped as a future star and is beginning to live up to the hype.
The biggest result of his career so far came earlier this month in Madrid when he beat Djokovic in the second round, and the Serbian will know he cannot afford to drop too far below his best if he is to avoid a repeat.
Li Na stunned
Chinese sixth seed Li Na, the 2011 champion, was knocked out of the rain-lashed French Open.
Li went down 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 to brash American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in what was the 31-year-old’s earliest defeat at the tournament in seven appearances.
As Mattek-Sands, the World No 67, looked forward to a third round match-up with Argentine Paula Ormaechea, Li was left surveying the wreckage of a second successive Roland Garros failure. Twelve months ago, she went out in the last 16 to Yaroslava Shvedova.
Cakewalk for Azarenka vs Beck
Third seed Victoria Azarenka reached the French Open third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Germany's Annika Beck.
She will play either France’s Alize Cornet or Spain’s Silvia Soler-Espinosa for a place in the last 16.
Elsewhere, former finalist Samantha Stosur also went through. Ninth-seeded Stosur was a set and 4-1 up on France’s Kristina Mladenovic before a first stoppage. The Australian then took advantage of a 20-minute window on their return to Court Philippe Chatrier to complete a 6-4, 6-3 win.
Williams sisters out of doubles
Serena and Venus Williams have pulled out of the women’s doubles at the French Open as Venus is suffering from a lower back injury, organisers announced.
The Americans had planned to team up at Roland Garros for the first time in three years, receiving a wild card from the tournament and a 12th seeding. u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
