PARIS – Rafael Nadal kicked off his quest for a 14th French Open title with a straight-sets win over Jordan Thompson.
Earlier, World number one Novak Djokovic launched his French Open title defence in routine fashion with a straight-set win over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
Nadal, on a quarter-final collision course with Novak Djokovic, brushed Australia’s 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.
“I’m very happy with the victory. I’m happy to get through in three sets,” said Nadal according to AFP.
“It’s a first round, a positive match for me. Straight sets but with significant room for improvement.”
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.
Serbia’s Djokovic thumped 99th-ranked Nishioka 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier.
The top-seeded Serb, who turned 35 on Sunday, is playing his first major since losing the US Open final last September.
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.
Elsewhere, Former world number one Naomi Osaka said she may skip Wimbledon over the decision to strip the Grand Slam tournament of ranking points.
“I would say the decision is kind of affecting my mentality going into grass, like I’m not 100 per cent sure if I’m going to go there,” said Osaka after her 7-5, 6-4 loss to Amanda Anisimova in the French Open first round.
The ATP and WTA tours last week removed ranking points from Wimbledon after the All England Club banned Russian and Belarusian players in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“I would love to go just to get some experience on the grass court, but at the same time, I don’t want to say it’s pointless, but I’m the type of player that gets motivated by seeing my ranking go up,” added the four-time major winner.
“So the intention of this measure was good, but the execution is all over the place.
“I’m sure there will be a bit of back and forth with the whole point situation. Then I guess I’ll make my decision.” Wimbledon chiefs branded the move by the two tours, which threatens to reduce the sport’s most prestigious tennis tournament to the status of an exhibition event, as “disproportionate”.
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens yesterday said she supported the move to strip the ranking points.
“I think the decision that was taken was the correct one,” said the American.
Today, Osaka was knocked out of Roland Garros, 12 months after controversially quitting the tournament.
The error-plagued Japanese star served up eight double faults and committed 29 unforced errors against Anisimova.
In 2021, Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros when she refused to honour mandatory media commitments before revealing she had been suffering from depression.
Osaka, who was number two in the world at the time, was fined and threatened with a Grand Slam ban for her opposition to news conferences which she likened to “kicking people when they’re down”.
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