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Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic begins his bid for a second French Open title and 18th grand slam title on Tuesday, pledging to be on his best behaviour following his US Open disqualification.
The world number one tackles Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, ranked 80, seeking a 32nd win in 33 matches in 2020.
His only loss was against himself following his now infamous default in New York for an angry swipe of the ball which hit a line judge in the throat.
“Of course, I will make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice,” said the Serb who remains only one of two men to have defeated 12-time champion Rafael Nadal in 15 years in Paris.
Grouchy Rafa Nadal begins ‘most difficult’ Roland Garros as Serena Williams tries again for 24
Djokovic suffered no hangover from his US Open controversy, quickly wrapping up a record 36th Masters title in Rome in a perfect clay-court tune-up for Paris.
An extra incentive in Paris for the Serb is the opportunity to become the first man in the Open era – and only the third man in history – to win each of the four grand slam titles twice.




















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or ⚽️ The choice is yours, @djokernole... #RolandGarros #tennis #Paris #clay #sport #football #NovakDjokovic Philippe Montigny / FFT
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Ymer, 22, who is of Ethiopian descent, hasn’t won a main draw match on tour since the sport resumed after its lengthy suspension due to the coronavirus.
However, he made the second round of Roland Garros on his grand slam debut last year having come through qualifying before losing to Germany’s Alexander Zverev.
Novak Djokovic apologises after being disqualified for hitting line judge
Also on Tuesday, newly-crowned Hamburg champion Andrey Rublev, seeded 13, tackles giant American Sam Querrey.
The 22-year-old Rublev’s final win in Germany over Stefanos Tsitsipas was his third title of 2020, after hard-court trophies on Doha and Adelaide.
Rublev has yet to win a match at Roland Garros in two visits following a loss in qualifying in 2016 and a first round exit in 2017.
World 48 Querrey made the third round in Paris in 2013.
Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, seeded nine, faces French veteran Gilles Simon.
The left-hander leapt into the top 10 for the first time earlier this month and made the semi-finals of the US Open and last-eight in Rome.

However, Shapovalov, 21, has just one career win at Roland Garros.
In the women’s event, second seed Karolina Pliskova, a semi-finalist in 2017, gets proceedings underway on Court Philippe Chatrier against world number 172 Mayar Sherif, the first Egyptian woman to play the main draw at a slam.
The 24-year-old Cairo native competed in university tennis in the United States and will play Tuesday with Liverpool football superstar and compatriot Mo Salah following her progress closely.
Salah retweeted news of Sherif qualifying for the main draw.
“Thank you to the Egyptian king for the encouragement,” she replied on Facebook.


Year in tennis: ‘Sincaraz’ rivalry splits men’s grand slams while 4 share women’s titles

Andre Agassi on Hong Kong, his comeback and learning to live in the present

Aryna Sabalenka on loving Hong Kong, Steffi Graf and inspiring young players

Meet Mirra Andreeva, the tennis star who beat Emma Navarro at Wimbledon – and didn’t realise at first: the 18-year-old works with Nike and Rolex, and her idol Roger Federer was at her game

French Open

French Open: almost perfect Novak Djokovic ready for Roland Garros bow

Novak Djokovic plays a shot against Austria’s Dominic Thiem in Rome last week. He has vowed to be on his best behaviour in Paris. Photo: AP

TOPSHOT - Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with his trophy after winning the final match of the Men's Italian Open against Argentina's Diego Schwartzman at Foro Italico on September 21, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Riccardo Antimiani / POOL / AFP)

French Open: Zhang Shuai topples seeded Madison Keys to make round two; Taiwan’s Hsieh progresses

Zhang Shuai returns a shot during her first round win against Madison Keys at the French Open. Photo: Xinhua

French Open: grouchy Rafa Nadal begins ‘most difficult’ Roland Garros as Serena Williams tries again for 24

Rafa Nadal is known as a clay-court specialist. Photo: Reuters

French Open: relaxed Simona Halep heads into Roland Garros as clear favourite

Romania’s Simona Halep is confident ahead of the French Open. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Tennis


Serbian Djokovic begins his bid for a second Roland Garros title against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer



Serbian Djokovic begins his bid for a second Roland Garros title against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer.


French Open: almost perfect Novak Djokovic ready for Roland Garros bow

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Serbian Djokovic begins his bid for a second Roland Garros title against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer

Serbian Djokovic begins his bid for a second Roland Garros title against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer