Novak Djokovic ends Aljaz Bedene's run at French Open
- Published
French Open |
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Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 22 May to 5 June |
Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app. |
Top seed Novak Djokovic won 6-2 6-3 6-3 to end Aljaz Bedene's hopes of joining fellow Briton Andy Murray in the fourth round of the French Open.
Bedene, 26, who had never won a match at Roland Garros until this year, played well but was outclassed by Serbia's world number one.
Djokovic, seeking his first French Open title, won just before play would have been suspended because of bad light.
The 29-year-old will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut next.
Women's report: Serena and Venus into last 16
Results: Saturday's matches at Roland Garros
With the match only starting at 19:25 in France (18:25 in UK) because of rain earlier on, Djokovic faced a race against time to finish the match on Saturday.
The 11-time Grand Slam singles champion won the first set in 37 minutes, and despite dropping his serve, continued to dominate in the second.
British number two Bedene, bidding for his first victory over a top-10 opponent at the eighth attempt, kept plugging away, but in gloomy conditions Djokovic just managed to wrap up victory at 21:30 local time.
Second seed Murray, who beat Ivo Karlovic on Friday, faces American John Isner in the fourth round on Sunday.
His match is scheduled third on Court Suzanne Lenglen after a men's singles and a women's singles match, but rain could delay play.
BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller: |
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"Djokovic guaranteed himself a day off by wrapping up victory with the last drop of light. |
"It was an achievement to beat the clock in a match in which Bedene made him do plenty of running, and the victory all the sweeter as Sunday's weather forecast is shocking. |
"For a man who admitted his confidence was very fragile at the start of the tournament, the world number 66 has had a very encouraging week. |
"He is not the first man to play well against Djokovic but still lose in straight sets, and seemed to thrive on the opportunity to play in front of a 10,000-strong crowd." |
Tsonga injury changes schedule
Djokovic and Bedene's match was moved to Court Suzanne Lenglen after rain delayed play for more than two hours, but was switched back to Philippe Chatrier after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired hurt while leading 5-2 against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.
The Frenchman, who reached the semi-finals last year, was leading 5-2 when a problem with his left leg forced him to quit in tears.
The sixth seed said: "I came on court feeling really good. The first game of the match I did a slide, and I just felt a pain.
"I continued a little bit and it was coming more and more painful. I knew it was over, because no chance I can play all match long like this."
Gulbis will play 12th seed David Goffin, who came through a five-setter against Nicolas Almagro 6-2 4-6 6-3 4-6 6-2.
Also through is seventh seed Tomas Berdych, who saw off Pablo Cuevas 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5.
Murray and Soares through to third round
Britain's Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares are safely through to the third round of the men's doubles.
The fourth seeds defeated French pair David Guez and Vincent Millot 6-2 7-6 (7-5) having twice recovered from a break down in the second set.
Murray is currently ranked third in the world but has the chance to move back to number one with a good run at Roland Garros.
Since reaching the third round in Paris last year, the Scot has made the final at every Grand Slam, winning his first title with Soares at the Australian Open in January.
Fellow Scot Colin Fleming and Israeli partner Jonathan Erlich lost their third-round match, as did British pair Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith in the women's doubles.
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