Novak Djokovic enjoyed a belated 35th birthday celebration with a dominant opening-round win Monday evening at Roland Garros. The World No. 1, whose birthday was Sunday, improved to 18-0 in the first round at the clay Grand Slam with a strong performance against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.

In a 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 result, Djokovic broke through stubborn early resistance in each of the first two sets to ease past his World No. 99 opponent for his 82nd win at the Paris event.

“Have to be pleased with the start [to the tournament],” Djokovic assessed. “Beginning of the match, until I really got used to and adapted to his game, it was difficult to go through him. He’s very quick, one of the quickest players on the tour.

“The conditions [were] quite slow. The ball was not bouncing, and it was just difficult to penetrate him. So the first set was very close, but I managed to find the right serves at the right time. That helped. Then I cruised through the second and third really when I started going through the ball a bit more.”

In a nearly 10-minute opening game, the Serbian saved three break points across five deuces. But once the Court Philippe Chatrier roof closed midway through the opening set, Djokovic took command. He saved a break point in his first service game of set two before racing out to a 5-0 lead. Though he could not serve out the middle set from 5-0, he completed the shutout in set three to ease through.

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Nishioka frustrated Djokovic at times with his determination and movement, and the match was much closer than the scoreline suggested until the Serbian pulled away late. The World No. 1 triumphed with a display of great variety, mixing in drop shots and looped baseline groundstrokes with more direct attacks throughout.

Djokovic did not drop a set in his Rome title run two weeks ago, and extended that streak to 13 sets in a row with victory on Chatrier.

“I have been feeling very well on clay in the last three, four weeks, of course,” Djokovic said. “Excited to bring out intensity on the court and compete with the guys. I’m happy to be back. Roland Garros is one of the biggest tournaments in the world, and the memories from last year still are fresh in my head, in my mind. It was nice to be back on the centre court.”

He has not lost a set in the opening round in Paris since 2010, and has never dropped more than three games in a set against Nishioka, whom he beat for the third time on Monday.

🥇 No.1 @DjokerNole cruised in his first round matchup against Yoshihito Nishioka in today’s late match — catch the highlights:#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/agxo5JfBuy

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 23, 2022

Nishioka, who was playing in just his second clay-court main draw of the season (Munich), drops to 2-14 against Top 10 opponents, including 0-4 on clay. He was seeking his first clay win of 2022.

Djokovic, the No. 1 seed for the fourth straight year and eighth year overall at Roland Garros, has never lost before the semi-finals as top seed, including his title runs in 2016 and 2021. He has reached the quarter-finals or better each year since 2010, and 15 of the past 17 years. Should he get to the last eight this year, he is seeded to meet Rafael Nadal in a rematch of their semi-final classic from 2021.

The Serbian is in his record 371st week atop the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, though his position is under threat from both Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev this fortnight. Djokovic remains atop the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings but will soon lose the 2,000 points he earned from his 2021 title.

Alex Molcan or Federico Coria will provide the next opposition for Djokovic, with their opening-round match delayed by rain Monday. Slovakia’s Molcan is coached by Marian Vajda, who previously worked with Djokovic.

“It’s nice to have the full crowd, and I was lucky to be scheduled on the centre court because of the rain interruptions today. Many matches were not completed,” Djokovic said. “Obviously centre court being the only one with the roof helps a lot when you know you’re going to finish your match.

“At night usually in all Slams, in all tournaments, the atmosphere is more energetic, more electric, crowd gets into it. It was a good experience.”

Arthur Rinderknech was born to play tennis. The Frenchman’s mother, Virginie Paquet, won a round at Roland Garros in 1986. His father, Pascal, is the director of a tennis club in Paris. The fact that he is competing in singles at his home Grand Slam for the third time makes sense.

His journey, however, is not what you might expect.

Rinderknech can’t remember his earliest moments with a tennis racquet in his hand because of how young he was. “I had the racquet in my hand and wanted to hit the ball and that’s how it started,” he told ATPTour.com. “Then I just fell in love with this sport.”

But Rinderknech, now 26, did not prove his generation’s Richard Gasquet. In fact, he did not crack the Top 500 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings until 2018, when he was 23. That is partly because he did not turn professional as a teen. Instead, he spent four years more than 8,000 kilometres from home in College Station, Texas. Rather than a place visited for its tourist attractions, he was on a campus renowned for college football. Rinderknech opted to attend Texas A&M University, where he played college tennis.

“I think I’m a player that is a little different to a lot of the guys,” Rinderknech told ATPTour.com. “The way I made it, going through college [was different], especially as an international, not as an American player. I never played juniors when I was young, I never played for the French junior team when I was young.”

The Frenchman added: “I felt like it was the best fit for me. I wasn’t the best in juniors. I was probably only ranked about fifth, sixth or seventh at my age in France, so I didn’t have much help. I wanted to keep playing tennis, not only go to school, and I could do both of them in the States, so that’s why I decided to go there. It was just a great experience and I kept improving.”

When Rinderknech was young, he went with his family to visit friends in Florida a few times between Boca Raton and Miami, so the United States was not completely new to him when he decided on following the college tennis route. He “loved the country and the culture”. The Gassin-native competed under head coach Steve Denton, the two-time Australian Open finalist.

“I felt like he had some good experience to give me, good teaching. He also had a big game, he was tall and served big, which is what I am trying to do,” Rinderknech said. “So I felt like it was the best fit for me, and of course the school is amazing, so it was perfect for me.”

It was not clear from the moment he stepped on campus that professional tennis was the next step, though. “I had this dream but was not really sure I wanted to do it,” Rinderknech admitted.

In the meantime, he studied business. “I’m pretty interested in business. Sports business, or business in general. I think it’s pretty interesting to know what’s going on. You know, manage people, manage money, stuff around. So I felt like it was the best thing for me to study, and also I think it leaves quite a lot of doors open for the future,” the Frenchman said.

But as Rinderknech’s time in Texas went on, his tennis improved. By the end of his college career, he cracked the Top 10 of the college rankings. When he was a junior at Texas A&M, he knew he wanted to play tennis for a living.

“I felt like I was improving in the States at college. My coach told me I should give it a shot, [that my] level was getting better and better,” Rinderknech said. “Then it’s just step by step. You’re getting better, you feel like you’re part of it and you want to get even better, and keep on climbing the big mountain.”

^{Rinderknech was a member of the 2022 French ATP Cup team. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}
Rinderknech’s big breakthrough came in January 2020, when he won his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Rennes, France, as the No. 328 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. He has not looked back since.

Last season, the Frenchman advanced to his first ATP Tour quarter-final and semi-final, and also cracked the Top 100 for the first time in July. Rinderknech’s season finished late, and by the time he ramped up his training for the new year, he did not have much time to reflect, which he did not mind.

“I feel like I belong where I am now, so I’m fine with that,” Rinderknech said. “I’m playing some big tournaments every week, against some good guys, so I feel fine with that.”

The 26-year-old right-hander, who plays big-serving, aggressive tennis, was a member of this year’s French ATP Cup team and made his first tour-level final in Adelaide, where he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Now Rinderknech, the man with tennis in his DNA, is competing at the biggest events in the world. This will be the first time he competes at Roland Garros without needing a wild card. But he is not overwhelmed by the spotlight. He just wants to be viewed as “a nice guy” who is trying his best to get better.

“It doesn’t change anything,” Rinderknech said. “I just feel lucky to be a part of the biggest tournaments in the world.”

Play has resumed on all courts at Roland Garros after rain had halted action on Monday at 1:02 p.m. local time.

The action continued throughout the two-hour, eight-minute delay on Court Philippe Chatrier, where Spaniard Rafael Nadal and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be starting their title quests on Philippe Chatrier later, following the completion of two WTA singles matches.

The 13-time champion Nadal will open against Australian Jordan Thompson, while reigning titlist Djokovic will start the defence of his crown against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka not before 8:45 p.m. in the first night match of the tournament.

Despite the early rain, there was still time for Filip Krajinovic to notch the first victory of the day, as the Serbian upset 17th seed Reilly Opelka with a 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-3 win.

American Taylor Fritz is in a tight battle with Argentine qualifier Santiago Rodriguez Taverna. The Indian Wells champion Fritz resumes with a 7-6(2), 3-6, 3-1 lead.

Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka will get his campaign underway against French wild card Corentin Moutet on Court Suzanne Lenglen, while 10th seed Cameron Norrie begins against French wild card Manuel Guinard on Court Simonne Mathieu.

There is always a lot at stake at the majors. There is even more on the line at Roland Garros this year thanks to a three-way battle for the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev and World No. 3 Alexander Zverev can all emerge from Paris atop the men’s tennis mountain, setting up for a thrilling fortnight in Paris.

In the immediate aftermath of the clay-court major, Djokovic holds his fate in his own hands in the battle for No. 1. If the Serbian wins the title, he will remain in top spot for a 373rd week on 6 June. If Djokovic does not reach the semi-finals, both Medvedev and Zverev have an opportunity to move to World No. 1.

Potential Pepperstone ATP Rankings Points (6 June) Based On RG Result

However, one week after Roland Garros concludes, the situation could dramatically change. Because the tournament was played one week later than normal last year, the trio will still count their 2021 Roland Garros points for the week of 6 June.

But on 13 June, Djokovic will drop his 2021 Roland Garros champion’s points (2,000), opening the door for Medvedev or Zverev to replace him at the top of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. If Djokovic does not win Roland Garros this year, he will relinquish top spot that day.  

If Medvedev reaches the Roland Garros final, he will return to World No. 1 on 13 June, even if Djokovic lifts the trophy. If Zverev wins the tournament and Medvedev does not reach the final, the German will become the 28th World No. 1. If Medvedev reaches the semi-finals in Paris and earns more than 15 points at the ATP 250 event in the week of 6 June at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, this would prevent Zverev from going to World No. 1 on 13 June even if he triumphs at Roland Garros.

Potential Pepperstone ATP Rankings Points (13 June) Based On RG Result

^{*Does not include potential points earned the week of 6 June}
The only thing that could potentially affect these scenarios is if Djokovic or Zverev accept a wild card into an ATP 250 the week of 6 June, when Medvedev is already scheduled to compete.

While the focus will be on the battle for World No. 1, there will be continued attention on the rise of 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who enters Roland Garros at a career-high No. 6. Should he win his maiden Grand Slam title, the Spaniard could move to as high as No. 4 on 6 June and No. 3 one week later on 13 June.

Richard Gasquet started his professional career in 2002 by becoming the youngest match-winner since the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990, qualifying and earning a main-draw win in Monte Carlo at age 15.

More than 20 years later, he holds a 573-355 record as one of the veterans of the game. His 573 match wins are the most of any Frenchman in the Open Era and have helped him to 15 tour-level titles and 17 additional finals.

But the 35-year-old is realistic about the fact that his best tennis may be behind him.

“My best tennis would be difficult,” he said, speaking to ATPTour.com at Indian Wells. “I was No. 7 in the world. It would be very difficult for me to come back to Top 10, even Top 20. But I just want to enjoy it, to be good on court… to have strength, to be free of injuries.”

Gasquet will enter Roland Garros at No. 70 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, and has not been inside the Top 50 in more than a year. He was last in the Top 30 in 2019, and reached his career-high of No. 7 in 2007.

While he may not expect to get back to that lofty position, he has proven his ability to beat players at the top of the game.

He enters Roland Garros on the heels of his deepest tournament run of the 2022 season — a semi-final showing in Geneva. Gasquet defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on his way to the last four, earning the second victory of his career against a top two opponent (He defeated then-World No. 1 Roger Federer in a third-set tie-break in Rome in 2011.).

“Of course I’m sure I can win many great matches,” he said. “I did against top players, even Top 10, winning tough matches and playing well.

“But I’m 36 this year, so it gets more and more difficult. I just want to enjoy it and try my best to go forward.”

A three-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, Gasquet has reached four ATP Tour quarter-finals in 2022, including three on clay. In addition to his win over Medvedev, he has three Top-40 victories on the year, beating Ugo Humbert in consecutive events (Australian Open, Montpellier) and Tommy Paul in Estoril. He also took eventual champion and World No. 7 Andrey Rublev to a third-set tie-break in Marseille.

The Frenchman has worked to play more aggressive tennis in order to stay competitive in his mid-30s.

“I’m trying to develop my game to play more offensive. Sometimes it’s not so easy,” he said. “[I’m also trying] to serve better. I think the serve is the key for tennis.”

Gasquet will face South Africa’s Lloyd Harris in the Roland Garros first round, and could meet 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. The young Spaniard beat him in the Umag final last July to claim his first ATP Tour title.

But two fellow 30-somethings remain among the favourites to win this year’s men’s singles crown in Paris: defending champion Novak Djokovic and 13-time champ Rafael Nadal.

“Of course it’s an inspiration, but nobody can compare with Nadal, with Federer,” Gasquet said, discussing the recent success of his contemporaries. “These are the best players in the history of tennis, so it’s really tough for me to compare myself with these kinds of guys.”

For Gasquet, his goals for his home-nation major are simple. In his 19th Roland Garros, he’s not necessarily looking to improve upon his best run to the 2016 quarter-finals.

“Just to play my best, to have fun on the court, to feel some great things on the court — especially in big tournaments like Roland Garros, big stages,” Gasquet said of his late-career targets.

“I’m still motivated to play… I’m still motivated to do my best to be still on top.”

Yoshihito Nishioka will face a tough test on Monday when he plays Novak Djokovic in the first round at Roland Garros. The Japanese lefty has lost his two previous ATP Head2Head matches against the World No. 1, who has not fallen short of the quarter-finals on the Parisian clay since 2009.

Nishioka, who has climbed as high as No. 48 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings has off-court hobbies that include video games.

In this edition of ‘Gamers’, ATPTour.com spoke to Nishioka about his gaming sessions with fellow Japanese players including Kei Nishikori, the rise of e-sports and more.

How much do you enjoy video games?
I play a lot. I’m crazy. I play Nintendo Switch, which is very famous right now. I think also many players are playing Super Smash Bros. or Mario Kart. We are playing with Kei [Nishikori] or other Japanese players like Yosuke Watanuki. We are playing together.

I bring the [gaming] laptop [on the road with me] and am using a mouse and a headset and I’m playing games.

Out of all the Japanese players, who is the best at video games?
Kei is pretty nice. Also in Mario Kart, he’s very good.

How important is it for you to have video games because you’re so busy with tennis, to do something fun that’s a little different?
It’s not that great to stay in the house or hotel playing video games four or five hours in a row or something. If you have a chance to go outside, I like to go outside, so I’m not playing every day. But if I have time, like an hour or two hours and have nothing to do, it’s good for spending time.

And also [if] you have friends who are playing the same games, [you] can have conversations with friends… I can forget about tennis between [matches], which I think is very important. If you think only about tennis all the time, like 24 hours, you’re just going to be very tired. You have to forget sometimes.

We have to be fresh every day, because every day we’re playing different players. We have to be thinking a different way every day. We have to forget [past] matches.

When did you start playing video games, and what are some of the earliest games you remember playing?
I have a brother, we played the same games together. Pokemon we played many times, we battled each other. I think we were five or six years old when we started playing games. In Japan, games [are big].

Do you follow e-sports?
I do. I have some friends who own an e-sports team. I spoke to them a couple times, it sounds pretty interesting. If I have a chance, I want to try to do [e-sports] as well… I’m not that great, but I want to try to be better and I want to try to play in some tournaments or something.

READ MORE GAMERS FEATURES

What do you think about e-sports and the big rise of e-sports athletes?
You’re not moving your body or not going to be crazy-tired like tennis [players]. It’s very different in a way, but I feel it’s [a sport]. I play Super Smash Bros. by Nintendo with a friend who plays professionally. I played a couple times and there is no chance to beat them.

I have sometimes a chance at the beginning, but he says, ‘Okay, I’ll figure out how you’re going to play’, and after playing a couple times there is no chance to beat him… It’s very, very difficult, I feel. That’s how I feel. I have a lot of respect for that for sure.

When you pack for a trip, do you always have to pack your Nintendo Switch? What else do you bring?
Yes, I always bring it. I bring the Switch and a gaming laptop. I need Internet, but if I have good Internet [I am set].

What is your setup like at home?
I started living in Japan when I was 18 years old. From 15 to 18 [I was in the] U.S. I started living just by myself, rented a house. I started living in my house at 18 years old. Now I’ve been living in Japan for eight years, I never bought a TV. So I don’t have a TV, but I have a monitor that is only used for streaming TV, Netflix, but also using it for games as well.

What is your personal top-three list of best games you’ve played?
It’s a lot of games! I spent crazy time playing Pokemon. Dragon Quest, which is a Japanese game. Also Spartan. I think No. 1 is Pokemon. No. 2 is Spartan. Maybe Dragon Quest, not sure for No. 3.