PARIS - Novak Djokovic made a clinical start to his latest pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old Djokovic had little trouble in seeing off 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.
"Well, the emotions were really nice," said Djokovic, seeded sixth and playing in Paris for the first time since winning Olympic gold last August.
"But, you know, it was quite challenging conditions I think at the beginning of the match with the wind and rain and everything that was happening."
The three-time French Open champion lost his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid earlier in the clay-court season, but was dominant against McDonald, despite failing to serve out the second set in the eighth game.
"I think it was good move to go to Geneva, to be honest, because I was also struggling a little bit with confidence level, doubting my game a bit," said Djokovic.
"So it was good that I got four matches under my belt, won a title. Coming into Roland Garros, it feels different than I had comparing to the feeling I had three weeks ago. Let's see how far I can go here, but I have a good feeling for now."
The Serb, who withdrew injured before the quarter-finals in 2024, will next meet 73rd-ranked Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
Djokovic is on the same half of the draw as world number one Jannik Sinner and last year's runner-up Alexander Zverev, who saw off American teenager Learner Tien 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
World number three Zverev is hoping to go a step further than 12 months ago when he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.