PARIS — Novak Djokovic turned in a command performance for new coach Andre Agassi as the French Open title holder hammered home a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Joao Sousa to reach the third round on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Djokovic is being advised on a trial basis this week by Agassi, the 47-year-old American legend, as the pair test out a more permanent arrangement. Djokovic was untroubled by his 59th-ranked opponent from Portugal.
“I had a great first set, pretty much did everything I wanted,” Djokovic said. “Midway second set until maybe midway third set, I felt like maybe I took off the foot from the gas a little bit.
“In some important moments I was hanging in there. The way I ended the match and last couple of games was positive. The way I started, as well.”
He now faces Diego Schwartzman in the third round after the Argentinian beat Stefano Napolitano 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. Rafael Nadal continued his march toward a possible 10th Paris title as he manhandled Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic beat Rogerio Dutra Silva 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
“I played a solid match, hitting very well the ball with the forehand,” Nadal said. “I think my serve worked better than yesterday.
Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem routed Italy’s Simone Bolelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.
Belgian 10th seed David Goffin beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No. 11, stopped Spain’s Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
American Steve Johnson continued to win while grieving for his late father, beating Borna Coric 6-2, 7-6 (10-8), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), with the Croatian trashing a racquet in defeat.
In the last of the first-round matches, outsider Renzo Olivo broke French hearts as he finished off an upset of 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, winning 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (8-6), 6-4 in a match stopped for darkness the night before in the fifth set.
Defending women’s champion Garbine Muguruza Blanco came from a set and a break down to advance over Anett Kontaveit 6-7 (7-4), 6-4, 6-2.
“We both were playing pretty good,” the Spanish fourth seed said. “The level was very high, it was who was going to keep it for a long time.
“I didn’t let myself go down. I kept fighting and turn it around, I just kept doing the same thing until it worked.”
Bethanie Mattek-Sands cut short the French Open dream of recovering Petra Kvitova as she defeated the 15th seed 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5).
Kvitova, playing on a protected ranking, was making her first appearance this week at Roland Garros five months after her hand was badly injured in a knife attack by an armed intruder during a home invasion.
Venus Williams continued to impress at her 20th Paris appearance, beating Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-1. The 10th-seeded American is just days away from turning 37 as she keeps up her form and ignores the calendar.
The 11th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki cruised past Canadian Francoise Abanda 6-0, 6-0.
Former finalist Samantha Stosur showed improving form as she defeated Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).
Latvian Jelena Ostapenko put out Olympic champion Monica Puig 6-3, 6-2.
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