Top seed Novak Djokovic produced a composed performance against Argentinian Guido Pella to set up a clash with rising star Grigor Dimitrov in the French Open third round.
Top seed Novak Djokovic produced a composed performance against Argentinian Guido Pella to set up a clash with rising star Grigor Dimitrov in the French Open third round.The World No 1, who is bidding to win a first title at Roland Garros and aiming to become just the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam, proved a class apart.He lost just four games en-route to an easy 6-2 6-0 6-2 victory against the left-hander from Buenos Aires in one hour and 26 minutes on Philippe Chatrier.The 26-year-old Serbian pushed his opponent on to the back foot with his superior courtcraft from the start.Although the opening set went with serve for the opening five games Djokovic eventually took charge by breaking and then winning 11 games in a row, taking the first and second sets on another rainy Parisian day.Dictating ralliesDjokovic controlled the centre of the court, dictating the rallies and his 23-years-old opponent who came into this year’s Roland Garros having upset Janko Tipsarevic in Dusseldorf last week.The crowd rose in unison to applaud the world No 83 Pella when he won a game in the second game of the third set but it was a short-lived reprieve Djokovic closed the match out.He will next opponent will be Grigor Dimitrov who had been only two games away from victory over French teenager Lucas Pouille when the rain came, but he quickly finished things off, winning 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.The Bulgarian 26th seed will take on Djokovic in a mouthwatering encounter and a repeat of their meeting in Madrid earlier this month, which Dimitrov won.Hard workHowever, Djokovic has warned 22-year-old Dimitrov the next step in his career is all about hard work.The Serb said: "He’s still young and he has definitely the potential to be one of the top players, but it’s a very long way for him. A few tournaments don’t change much."Now it’s all about hard work, dedication to the sport and trying to be consistently successful on all the surfaces in order to be a top five, top 10 player, because this is the only way you can actually reach the level that it is right now."It’s the third round, it will definitely be on a big court. The most important thing is just to go out there and try to enjoy the game. And at the same time, I’m really looking forward to playing at my best. And you never know what’s going to happen.”