French Open fans hit by alcohol ban as Djokovic cruises on

Novak Djokovic reached the French Open last 32 for the 19th successive year on Thursday as Roland Garros organisers banned alcohol from the stands in an effort to counter growing complaints from players over disrespectful, rowdy fans.

Defending champion Djokovic cracked 43 winners past Spain’s 63rd-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena to canter to a 6-4 6-1 6-2 win.

The three-time champion, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title, will face Gael Monfils of France or Italian 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti next.

Djokovic holds a 19-0 winning record against Monfils, and has defeated Musetti four times in five meetings.

However, the Italian gave the Serb a major scare at the French Open in 2021, when he won the first two sets before having to retire injured in the decider.

Djokovic goes around the post for the 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 ↩️#RolandGarros @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/TD8RrKPrvg

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2024

“It was a difficult match against Roberto. He hit a lot of very good and precise shots,” said Djokovic.

“The last game of the first set I played really well,and started to play at a higher level. At the end of the match I was then playing very well.”

Also easing through to the third round on another rain-hit day in the French capital were women’s title contenders Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

However, the behaviour of fans at the tournament, which was brought into focus by Belgium’s David Goffin’s claim that he had chewing gum spat at him, prompted measures to clamp down on loutish behaviour.

“Alcohol has been allowed in the stadiums until now, but that’s over,” tournament director Amelie Mauresmo told reporters.

However, alcohol, including beer from mobile vendors, will still be sold around the grounds.

Mauresmo said fans will be ejected if they throw something at a player, and that “umpires have tighter, even more precise instructions on keeping the crowd under control”.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who effectively ended Rafael Nadal’s French Open career in the first round, defeated Goffin 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 6-2.

Zverev arrived in Paris on the back of winning the Rome Open title, and is the only player to reach the semi-finals at the last three French Open tournaments.

On Friday, a Berlin court will hear an appeal by Zverev against a fine for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

He received a €450 000 fine in October, but appealed against the ruling earlier this year, leading to a full trial.

The 27-year-old is not required to attend the proceedings, and insisted on the eve of the tournament that he “believes in the German system”.

On Thursday, he refused to discuss the case further.

“I have said everything before the tournament,” he said.

After only nine singles matches were played after a Wednesday washout, 55 second- round ties were scheduled on Thursday.

Among early winners were World No 2 Sabalenka, who fired 27 winners past Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima to win 6-2 6-2.

The two-time Australian Open champion, a semi-finalist in Paris last year, has made at least the last four at her past six Grand Slams, and is expected to be Iga Swiatek’s chief rival in the Pole’s quest for a fourth French Open title.

Sabalenka will take on close friend Paula Badosa of Spain for a place in the last 16.

“It’s not the best weather. I feel like going back to the hotel, getting a blanket and hot tea, and Netflix,” said the Belarusian, who had the benefit of playing under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier.

Fourth-seeded Rybakina, the only woman to defeat Swiatek on clay this year, was similarly untroubled. She eased past Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-3 6-4.

Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev moved into the last 32 after his opponent Miomir Kecmanovic retired with injury while trailing the fifth seed 6-1 5-0.

AFP