Novak Djokovic ekes out second round win over Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar at French Open
Alexander Zverev, Kei Nishikori, and Grigor Dimitrov all make it through tough five-setters
Wednesday 30 May 2018 18:04, UK
Novak Djokovic may not firing on all cylinders but the former French Open champion made it safely through to the third round on Wednesday.
The Serbian, seeded only 20 due to his recent injury absence, will now face Spanish 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut after a straight-sets win over Jaume Munar.
Munar may be ranked a lowly 155 in the world but he made Djokovic work for every point in some lengthy and at times spectacular rallies.
The Spaniard, broken early on, hit back in the opening set only for Djokovic to race through the tie-break 7-1.
Munar occasionally had Djokovic scrambling throughout the next two sets with his fearsome shot-making, but the 2016 champion was able to post a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-4 victory.
Bautista Agut came through thanks to a comfortable 6-4 7-5 6-3 win against Colombian Santiago Giraldo.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev trailed by a set and a break before eventually collecting himself and coming back to beat 60th-ranked Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 2-6 7-5 4-6 6-1 6-2.
The German, who also reached the third round two years ago, recorded his 32nd win of the season and will next play Bosnian Damir Dzumhur for a place in the last 16.
Fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov clinched a marathon 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 4-6 6-4 10-8 victory over American Jared Donaldson in four hours and 19 minutes to book a last-32 spot.
The Bulgarian was pushed all the way by world No 57 Donaldson, but grabbed the crucial break in the 17th game of the deciding set as his opponent started to struggle with cramp.
Dimitrov will face dangerous Spaniard Fernando Verdasco next as he looks to reach the fourth round in Paris for the first time.
Eighth-ranked Belgian David Goffin produced a clinical display to reach the third round for a fourth straight year, defeating Corentin Moutet 7-5 6-0 6-1, while Japan's Kei Nishikori came from behind to defeat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3 2-6 4-6 6-2 6-3.
"He was attacking every shot," said Nishikori, who will next face Frenchman Gilles Simon who put out American 12th seed Sam Querrey 1-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1. "He has one of the best touches on the Tour, it was fun to play him and also a difficult match today."
In a match held over from Tuesday Tomas Berdych, the 17th seed, was a first-round casualty after he was beaten by France's Jeremy Chardy in five sets.
Czech Berdych, a former Wimbledon finalist, came from two sets down to haul himself level only to bow out 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-8) 1-6 5-7 6-2.
Pablo Carreno Busta's nifty movement and measured approach proved decisive in a 7-6 (7-0) 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 win over Federico Delbonis of Argentina.
The 10th-seeded Spaniard will next face Marco Cecchinato for a place in the last-16 after the Italian put an end to Marco Trungelliti's epic journey with a 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 success.
