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World number one Novak Djokovic has brushed aside Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis 6-1 6-2 6-2 for a place in the French Open third round.
Top-seeded Djokovic barely broke a sweat in thrashing of the outclassed Berankis.
Some rare sunshine bathed the Court Phillipe Chatrier on Thursday but it was dull viewing for the few spectators allowed in to watch the 33-year-old glide effortlessly through to stamp his ticket to the next round of the competition.
The opening set was done and dusted in 22 minutes as Djokovic won the last ten points and the second set was only marginally more competitive for his opponent.
Berankis, ranked 66th, needed courtside treatment on his back before the start of the third set but got back to his feet to endure more punishment from the clinical Serb.
Djokovic, bidding for his second French Open crown and 18th Grand Slam title, has dropped ten games in two rounds so far and occasionally looked bored on Thursday, taking the opportunity to practise his drop shot on numerous occasions.
He finished it off after only 83 minutes with his tenth ace.
It was a carbon copy of the pair’s only other grand slam clash when Berankis also managed only five games at the 2013 US Open.
It was Djokovic’s 70th victory at the French Open, moving him into joint second place on the all-time list with Roger Federer.
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was equally clinical in his 6-1 6-4 6-2 win over Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas after rallying from two sets down to beat Spaniard Jaume Munar in Round 1.
But it was the end of the road for Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who twice served for the match against Roberto Carballes Baena before losing 7-5 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 8-6.
Italian Matteo Berrettini reached the third round for the second time to equal his best Roland Garros result with a 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3 victory over Lloyd Harris.
© AAP
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