Date:26/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/26/stories/2008052654661900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Djokovic battles past Gremelmayr RESULTS

TENNIS / Vaidisova falls to Benesova

— Photo: AFP

CAUSING A RIPPLE: Iveta Benesova knocked out the 15th seed Nicole Vaidisova.

PARIS: Novak Djokovic sluggishly began his quest for a second straight Grand Slam title by holding off Denis Gremelmayr 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the French Open here on Sunday.

The Australian Open champion was broken in his first two service games and trailed 5-1 in the first set before finding his game in the second.

“He surprised me a little bit. He was very aggressive,” said Djokovic, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros last year. “I wasn’t really on my highest level, but hopefully I can continue and go far.”

In the third set, Djokovic’s emotions overflowed and it started with a throw of his racket into the red clay after Gremelmayr hit a forehand winner in the opening game.

Djokovic then took a 4-1 lead after breaking his German opponent in the fifth game of the third set. Trailing 30-15 in that game, the pair traded 28 shots before Djokovic won the point with a smash near the net. The third-seeded Serb then raised his arms over his head and leaned over the net while Gremelmayr looked on smiling.

But, after holding to take a 5-1 lead in that third set, Gremelmayr won four straight games to tie it 5-5. “He was serving much stronger in the second and fourth sets,” Gremelmayr said.

Djokovic is trying to become the first player since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back.

Ivanovic struggles

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up Ana Ivanovic struggled with her serve before reaching the second round with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Sofia Arvidsson.

First casualty

The first seeded player to lose was No. 15 Nicole Vaidisova. She reached the French Open semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals last year, but was upset by Iveta Benesova 7-6(2), 6-1.

Blake’s distinction

In the men’s draw, No. 6 David Nalbandian and No. 7 James Blake won. Blake’s 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to reach the second round at Roland Garros since 2006.

At last year’s French Open, the American men went 0-9 in the first round, with Blake losing to Ivo Karlovic. — AP