Staff Reporter.
Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic eased past Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier to keep his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title on track.
Djokovic was given a thorough workout at times by his 23-year-old opponent, but more than matched Misolic’s power and always looked to be in complete control.
He failed to convert nine break points in the early going, but finally made the pressure stand up to grab a 4-2 lead after showing incredible defensive skills to retrieve a barrage of smashes.
The Serbian fended off a break after falling behind 2-1 in the second set, and earned applause from the fans as he sportingly dusted his opponent down after Misolic tumbled over and had his sweat-soaked shirt coated in clay.
He soon went back to displaying his ruthless side, however, breaking the Austrian’s serve with a backhand winner as he raced into a two-set lead.
The sixth seed was in no mood for a late night, as exploding fireworks and nearly-as-loud roars rang out from across the street, and the third set followed the same pattern as he cruised through to a last 16 clash against Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
After winning his 100th career title in Geneva in the build-up to his latest foray at Roland-Garros, Djokovic has yet to drop a set in three rounds, and is looking to make another deep run in the French capital.
“I’m just hoping to carry on. Every time I step onto this court, I’m playing for history,” said Djokovic, who showed no sign of the blisters that troubled him in the previous round.
Should Djokovic beat Norrie, he will surpass his number of career match wins at the Australian Open, which he has won 10 times, while also maintaining his standard of reaching at least the quarterfinals at the French Open every year since 2010.
In other action, top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy dominated Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and 34 minutes, the fastest men’s match at Roland-Garros this year and, measured by games lost, the most lopsided victory of the World No. 1’s career at any of the sport’s four Grand Slam tournaments.