American Marconi Wireless News - Djokovic kicks off record attempt, Gauff, Andreeva through at French Open

The 38-year-old Djokovic faces 98th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald, three days after becoming only the third man to win 100 ATP titles with his victory in Geneva.

"Obviously winning 100th title, that is a nice milestone, of course, definitely much needed for my game and confidence level coming into Roland Garros," said Djokovic, seeded sixth and playing in Paris for the first time since winning Olympic gold last August.

"I needed to win matches, and particularly on this surface.

"I'm the type of player that needs to get some matches under his belt before the big tournaments."

Three-time Roland Garros champion 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 in five sets, his third defeat in as many Grand Slam finals.

His preparation has been far from ideal after his plane was struck by lightning on the journey to Paris following a last-16 loss in Hamburg.

The 19-year-old Tien, who knocked out Daniil Medvedev en route to the Australian Open last 16 in January, was overpowered on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Zverev, who has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last four French Opens, will next face either Dutchman Jesper de Jong or Italy's Francesco Passaro.

Former US Open champion and five-time Grand Slam runner-up Medvedev was dumped out in the first round for the sixth time in Paris, losing a dramatic clash with Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5.

Grigor Dimitrov retired injured for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam tournament, calling it quits due to a leg injury when leading American Ethan Quinn by two sets to one.

Ninth seed Alex de Minaur, a quarter-finalist at each of the past four majors, started well with an accomplished 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over Serbia's Laslo Djere.

- Gauff, Andreeva impress -

In the women's draw, 2022 runner-up Gauff brushed aside Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.

Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, has not won a tournament since last year's WTA Finals but reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome this month.

The 21-year-old American has reached the quarter-finals or better in each of her past four visits to Roland Garros.

"I knew it wasn't going to be a clean match with how windy it was," said the second seed.

"Honestly, it was two different matches depending on which side of the court you were on."

Rising Russian star Andreeva is eyeing her maiden Grand Slam crown after WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells and recovered well after falling 3-0 down to Spaniard Cristina Bucsa in the first set.

The 18-year-old quickly overturned the double-break deficit and eventually cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the world number 98.

"With time I played better and better, so I felt like closer to the end of the match was playing good, not like in the beginning," said the sixth seed.

Andreeva, who reached the semi-finals last year, will play either American Ashlyn Krueger or Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in the second round on Thursday.

Two-time former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka hammered Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, who will retire after Wimbledon, 6-0, 6-0 in a clash of mothers on Court 6.

Sofia Kenin, the 2020 losing finalist, also romped into the second round, beating French hope Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 6-1.

M.Thompson--AMWN