Djokovic, Federer off to winning starts

Novak Djokovic took his unbeaten record in 2011 to 38 wins yesterday before Grand Slam king Roger Federer demonstrated to the unstoppable Serb that he is still a French Open force.

Second seed Djokovic enjoyed a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 dismissal of hapless Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker in the first round before 16-time Grand Slam title-winner Federer romped to a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.

Also going through on a sweltering day at Roland Garros was former US Open champion, and 2009 semi-finalist in Paris, Juan Martin del Potro, a winner in four sets against Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic.

But sixth seed Czech Tomas Berdych, a semi-finalist last year, wilted in the heat, losing in five sets to French qualifier Stephane Robert, the world number 140.

One day after his 24th birthday, the red-hot, world number two Djokovic comfortably saw off the 71st-ranked De Bakker in just 92 minutes.

Djokovic, who is likely to depose Rafael Nadal as world number one by the end of the tournament, is also favourite to snatch the Spaniard’s French Open title, having seen off his rival in the Madrid and Rome claycourt finals.

His win yesterday took him to within four victories of equalling John McEnroe’s 1984 record for a winning season start of 42 triumphs.

“It’s my favourite Grand Slam, even though I haven’t won it yet,” said Djokovic, a semi-finalist in 2007 and 2008.

“I’ve been playing really well on clay. I’ve won three (claycourt) tournaments (Belgrade, Madrid and Rome) in the last few weeks, so I’m trying to build on that confidence,” added Djokovic, whose complete winning streak has now reached 40 matches, stretching back to Serbia’s Davis Cup triumph in December.

Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, who has seven titles under his belt already this year, will play either French wild card Benoit Paire or Romania’s Victor Hanescu for a place in the last 32.

World number three Federer, playing at his lowest seeding in eight years at a Grand Slam, is taking part in his 46th consecutive major.

He had won all his previous eight matches against Lopez but would have been wary of an opponent who had a match point in their last encounter at the Madrid Masters second round earlier this month.

However, he was in little danger yesterday, cruising to victory against a player who has now lost eight times in the first round in 11 Paris visits.

Federer will next tackle French wild card Maxime Teixeira for a place in the last 32.

In the women’s field, defending champion Francesca Schiavone swept into the French Open second round.

Fifth seed Schiavone, who last year became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam, beat American 19-year-old Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-0 and will meet Russian Vesna Dolonts in round two.

“I’m still shaking a little bit,” admitted Schiavone, after returning to Court Philippe Chatrier, the scene of her emotional victory over Australia’s Samantha Stosur in last year’s final.

“There was a lot of adrenaline. I felt really happy to be there.

“That court is fantastic because it’s compact and the court is perfect. It goes all around you.

“It’s like when you go home and your mum does everything for you and you feel comfortable. I felt like this, but with a lot of adrenaline.

“I was excited to be there at 11 o’clock on centre court.”

Russian third seed Vera Zvonareva, a losing finalist at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010, joined Schiavone in the second round when she overcame Spanish veteran Lourdes Domin-guez Lino 6-3, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Elsewhere, Slovakian 28th seed Daniela Hantuchova and Italy’s number 30 seed Roberta Vinci both overcame potential banana skins to take their places in round two.

Hantuchova beat China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-3, while Vinci edged Alberta Brianti in a three-set contest, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Other results: (Men) Baghdatis bt Gil 7-6, 6-2, 6-2; Gasquet bt Stepanek 7-5, 6-3, 6-0. (Women) Wozniacki bt Date Krumm 6-0, 6-2; Watson bt Foretz 7-6, 6-1.