French Open: Reigning Champions Djokovic, Nadal Win As Osaka Crashes Out

24th May 2022 - by Louis Kalinga

Djokovic defeated Japan’s Nishioka 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 in the first night session at full capacity in Paris in his first match at a major since losing last year’s US Open final

Novak Djokovic (SRB) during the 2022 French Open finals day two, in Paris, France, on May 23, 2022. PHOTO | AFP

SUMMARY

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic won in straight sets against Yoshihito Nishioka on his return to Grand Slam action at the French Open on Monday
Elsewhere, 13-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal eased to victory, but Naomi Osaka crashed out in the first round
Iga Swiatek, the favourite for the women’s title, stretched her winning streak to 29 matches by dispatching Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in 54 minutes

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic won in straight sets against Yoshihito Nishioka on his return to Grand Slam action at the French Open on Monday.

Djokovic defeated Japan’s Nishioka 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 in the first night session at full capacity in Paris in his first match at a major since losing last year’s US Open final.

His attempt to defend his Australian Open title in January ended in chaos and controversy when he was deported from Melbourne for refusing to get vaccinated.

The world number one, who turned 35 on Sunday, converted eight of 18 break points against Nishioka under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier on a rain-interrupted day.

He will next meet either Federico Coria of Argentina or Slovakia’s Alex Molcan, who is working with Marian Vajda — Djokovic’s former long-time coach.

Elsewhere, 13-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal eased to victory, but Naomi Osaka crashed out in the first round.

Nadal, on a quarter-final collision course with Djokovic, brushed Australia’s Jordan Thompson aside 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to improve his Roland Garros record to 106 wins and just three losses since his 2005 title-winning debut.

The Spaniard, who last week downplayed concerns over the recurrence of a foot injury that plagued him in Rome, meets Corentin Moutet in round two after the French wildcard defeated 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka was knocked out 7-5, 6-4 by Amanda Anisimova — the same player who ended the Japanese star’s title defence at the Australian Open this year.

Osaka served eight double faults and committed 29 unforced errors on her return to Roland Garros, after withdrawing in 2021 when she refused to honour mandatory media commitments before revealing she had been suffering from depression.

Women’s defending champion Barbora Krejcikova also crashed out, losing 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to 19-year-old Diane Parry of France in her first match since February following injury.

Iga Swiatek, the favourite for the women’s title, stretched her winning streak to 29 matches by dispatching Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0 in 54 minutes.

The 20-year-old Swiatek, who took over as world number one following Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement, has won her last five tournaments and is bidding for a second French Open in three attempts.

She is unbeaten since February and has the longest winning streak on the WTA tour since Serena Williams won 34 matches in a row in 2013.