PARIS (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic showed great composure on and off court on Monday as he began his bid to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four grand slams simultaneously with a 7-6 6-3 6-1 win over Italian Potito Starace in the French Open first round.

The Serbian was dragged into a first-set tiebreak, which he won 7-3, before he gradually outpaced the world number 97 with a string of thundering winners.

Instead of trying to deflect all the pressure and attention that has been building up towards his title bid, Djokovic chose to embrace a sentiment voiced by tennis great Billie Jean King.

“Pressure is always present, and the way I look at it, it is a privilege and it’s a challenge,” Djokovic told a news conference.

“So you need to try to understand and learn how to deal with it, and if you feel pressure, that means that you’re doing something that is right.

“So I’m happy — I’m happy to be where I am at this moment.”

Djokovic, who could meet third seed Roger Federer in the semi-final in a rematch of last year’s epic last-four tie, is taking a down-to-earth approach to his quest.

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic showed great composure on and off court on Monday as he began his bid to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four grand slams simultaneously with a 7-6 6-3 6-1 win over Italian Potito Starace in the French Open first round.

The Serbian was dragged into a first-set tiebreak, which he won 7-3, before he gradually outpaced the world number 97 with a string of thundering winners.

Instead of trying to deflect all the pressure and attention that has been building up towards his title bid, Djokovic chose to embrace a sentiment voiced by tennis great Billie Jean King.

“Pressure is always present, and the way I look at it, it is a privilege and it’s a challenge,” Djokovic told a news conference.

“So you need to try to understand and learn how to deal with it, and if you feel pressure, that means that you’re doing something that is right.

“So I’m happy — I’m happy to be where I am at this moment.”

Djokovic, who could meet third seed Roger Federer in the semi-final in a rematch of last year’s epic last-four tie, is taking a down-to-earth approach to his quest.

PARIS (Reuters) – Roger Federer added yet another record to his long list of achievements when he netted his 233rd grand slam victory with a 6-2 7-5 6-3 win against German Tobias Kamke in the first round of the French Open on Monday.

The third-seeded Swiss matched Jimmy Connors’s professional era (since 1968) mark despite hitting some wayward shots against the world number 78 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

“That (record) is a big one, because (it means) longevity. I have been so successful for such a long time and to already tie that record, (at) 30 years old is pretty incredible, so I’m very happy,” Federer told a news conference.

“And it’s been around for — Jimmy is obviously one of the greats of all time, and was around for 20 years.”

Federer, looking to secure a record 17th grand slam title at Roland Garros, cantered through the first set and broke decisively in the 11th game of the second, wrapping it up with a forehand winner in less than two hours.

Next up for the former world number one is Adrian Ungur after the Romanian beat Argentine David Nalbandian in four sets.

It was, however, a far from perfect performance for Federer, who hit 47 unforced errors and wobbled on his serve.

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) – Roger Federer added yet another record to his long list of achievements when he netted his 233rd grand slam victory with a 6-2 7-5 6-3 win against German Tobias Kamke in the first round of the French Open on Monday.

The third-seeded Swiss matched Jimmy Connors’s professional era (since 1968) mark despite hitting some wayward shots against the world number 78 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

“That (record) is a big one, because (it means) longevity. I have been so successful for such a long time and to already tie that record, (at) 30 years old is pretty incredible, so I’m very happy,” Federer told a news conference.

“And it’s been around for — Jimmy is obviously one of the greats of all time, and was around for 20 years.”

Federer, looking to secure a record 17th grand slam title at Roland Garros, cantered through the first set and broke decisively in the 11th game of the second, wrapping it up with a forehand winner in less than two hours.

Next up for the former world number one is Adrian Ungur after the Romanian beat Argentine David Nalbandian in four sets.

It was, however, a far from perfect performance for Federer, who hit 47 unforced errors and wobbled on his serve.

PARIS (Reuters) – Andy Roddick refused to offer any excuses after being sent packing in the first round of the French Open with a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-2 defeat against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on Sunday.

The 26th-seeded Roddick, who has never gone past the third round of the Paris grand slam in 10 attempts, could not even blame his exit on being outfoxed by a claycourt specialist.

“It’s not his favorite surface either,” Roddick admitted during a news conference.

Instead he went down to the man who will long be remembered for his record 11-hour five-minute tussle with American John Isner on the green grass of Wimbledon in 2010.

Mahut fired 13 aces past former world number one Roddick to secure his place in the second round.

On Sunday, he spent only two hours and 22 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen, ending Roddick’s cameo appearance with a backhand winner down the line.

The American, who had not played for two months between the Miami Masters and last week’s World Team Championship in Duesseldorf because of a hip injury, refused to wallow in self pity.

PARIS, May 27 (Reuters) – Andy Roddick refused to offer any excuses after being sent packing in the first round of the French Open with a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-2 defeat against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on Sunday.

The 26th-seeded Roddick, who has never gone past the third round of the Paris grand slam in 10 attempts, could not even blame his exit on being outfoxed by a claycourt specialist.

“It’s not his favourite surface either,” Roddick admitted during a news conference.

Instead he went down to the man who will long be remembered for his record 11-hour five-minute tussle with American John Isner on the green grass of Wimbledon in 2010.

Mahut fired 13 aces past former world number one Roddick to secure his place in the second round.

On Sunday, he spent only two hours and 22 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen, ending Roddick’s cameo appearance with a backhand winner down the line.

The American, who had not played for two months between the Miami Masters and last week’s World Team Championship in Duesseldorf because of a hip injury, refused to wallow in self pity.

PARIS (Reuters) – Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic: whoever wins at Roland Garros will claim something more than just the French Open title as tennis is going through a “very special time”, according to Federer himself.

The Swiss could snatch a record 17th grand-slam crown on the Paris clay, while Nadal wants to secure a record seventh French title and world number one Djokovic hopes to become the first man in 43 years to win the four major titles in a row.

“Well, I think at the moment it’s quite incredible. I can’t see one player not playing well at the moment, finding things difficult,” world number three Federer, who won his only French Open title in 2009, told a news conference on Friday.

“Some say two play well, one plays slightly less well, but the three play very well all along.

“But Novak deserves it. Nadal, too. It’s true that we’re going through a very special time in tennis.”

The Roger v Rafa duel has turned into a three-way rivalry with Djokovic taking over as world number one.

What now what stands between Djokovic and greatness is the Spaniard’s dominance on clay.

PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) – Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic: whoever wins at Roland Garros will claim something more than just the French Open title as tennis is going through a “very special time”, according to Federer himself.

The Swiss could snatch a record 17th grand-slam crown on the Paris clay, while Nadal wants to secure a record seventh French title and world number one Djokovic hopes to become the first man in 43 years to win the four major titles in a row.

“Well, I think at the moment it’s quite incredible. I can’t see one player not playing well at the moment, finding things difficult,” world number three Federer, who won his only French Open title in 2009, told a news conference on Friday.

“Some say two play well, one plays slightly less well, but the three play very well all along.

“But Novak deserves it. Nadal, too. It’s true that we’re going through a very special time in tennis.”

The Roger v Rafa duel has turned into a three-way rivalry with Djokovic taking over as world number one.

What now what stands between Djokovic and greatness is the Spaniard’s dominance on clay.

PARIS (Reuters) – Six-times champion Rafa Nadal was given a smooth-looking path to the French Open final while world number one Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer looked set for a possible semi-final clash in the other half of the draw made on Friday.

The Spanish second seed, who appeared to be back to his awe-inspiring best on clay in Rome earlier this month after an unfortunate slip-up on the Madrid blue surface, could face Briton Andy Murray in the semi-finals.

The defending champion will need, however, to keep up his guard in a first-round encounter with Italian Simone Bolelli before a likely match against claycourt specialist Juan Monaco of Argentina in the third round.

Sixth seed David Ferrer of Spain also lies in Nadal’s lower half of the draw, as does compatriot Nicolas Almagro, the 12th seed.

Djokovic, looking to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four grand-slam titles concurrently, faces a possible tricky fourth round against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, while local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the fifth seed, would be around the corner in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic, who was defeated by Nadal in the Rome final in straight sets, will start his campaign against Italy’s Potito Starace.

Federer, the third seed, could take on David Nalbandian, twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, in the second round as the injury-plagued Argentine has dropped to 40th in the ATP rankings.

PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) – Six-times champion Rafa Nadal was given a smooth-looking path to the French Open final while world number one Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer looked set for a possible semi-final clash in the other half of the draw made on Friday.

The Spanish second seed, who appeared to be back to his awe-inspiring best on clay in Rome earlier this month after an unfortunate slip-up on the Madrid blue surface, could face Briton Andy Murray in the semi-finals.

The defending champion will need, however, to keep up his guard in a first-round encounter with Italian Simone Bolelli before a likely match against claycourt specialist Juan Monaco of Argentina in the third round.

Sixth seed David Ferrer of Spain also lies in Nadal’s lower half of the draw, as does compatriot Nicolas Almagro, the 12th seed.

Djokovic, looking to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four grand-slam titles concurrently, faces a possible tricky fourth round against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, while local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the fifth seed, would be around the corner in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic, who was defeated by Nadal in the Rome final in straight sets, will start his campaign against Italy’s Potito Starace.

Federer, the third seed, could take on David Nalbandian, twice a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, in the second round as the injury-plagued Argentine has dropped to 40th in the ATP rankings.