Djokovic movement looks so much better. He was 1-3 down in the first set and then took 5 consecutive games hitting the ball really well. But Moutet is no mug and he will keep on fighting and hustling, so Djokovic has to stay focused.
Novak DJOKOVIC starts strong at Rome Open, defeats Corentin MOUTET in straight sets
ATPFriday, 10 May 2024 at 20:43
Novak Djokovic successfully debuted at the Rome Open by defeating Corentin Moutet (No. 83) 6-3, 6-2. The Serbian had an easy day against the irreverent French player and reached his 1,099th career win.
The first set didn't start off in the best way for Djokovic, who conceded his service in the first game. Nole quickly recovered the break, but then lost his service for the second consecutive time, allowing Moutet to take advantage and lead 3-1.
Despite a slow start after almost a month since his last tournament at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Djokovic quickly turned the tide of the match and entered a streak of consecutive games, closing the set 6-3 in just 45 minutes of play.
The Serbian didn't need too much effort to take control of the set. Djokovic had a 62% first service rate and won 56% of them, while Moutet had a solid 80% first service rate, but Djokovic neutralized it by winning 50% of the first return points.
In the second set, Djokovic capitalized on the momentum to quickly take a 2-0 lead in a match that was clearly tilting in his favor. Moutet had a slight reaction by breaking the streak after 7 games and managed to hold his service to make the score 2-1.
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However, it was only a mirage within Moutet's match, who also engaged in discussions with the chair umpire and was imprecise, far from being competitive against the world No. 1. From then on, it was a monologue by Djokovic, who dominated the points from the return, secured a couple more consecutive breaks, and closed the match 6-3, 6-1 in just 1 hour and 26 minutes.
In the third round, he will face Alejandro Tabilo, who defeated Yannik Hanfmann (No. 59) in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4). The 26-year-old Chilean is at the peak of his career after climbing more than 50 positions in 2024 and achieving his highest historical ranking as world No. 32.
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