By Alberto Amalfi | Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Novak Djokovic won 11 of the final 14 games defeating Jarkko Nieminen, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.
Photo credit: Roland Garros
Blown away in the opening set, Jarkko Nieminen finally seemed to have Novak Djokovic right where he wanted him.
Holding a 4-1 second-set lead over Djokovic, the 33-year-old Fin was one point from a double-break lead.
Video: Djokovic vs. Trick Shot Artist
The world No. 1 refused to let him get any closer.
Hitting with greater depth and precision, Djokovic drained Nieminen's legs reeling off 11 of the final 14 games to roar into the Roland Garros second round, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.
The top seed extended his winning streak to 23 matches successfully opening his quest for his first French Open title to complete the career Grand Slam. It was Djokovic's 37th consecutive Grand Slam first-round victory.
Djokovic burst out of the box quickly, blasting returns off Nieminen's sometimes sub-80 mph second serve. The Serbian won nine of 11 points played on the lefthander's serve, broke twice and nearly tripled his opponent's output (14 to 5) in dominating the opening set.
To his credit, Nieminen, who has reached the quarterfinals of every major except Roland Garros, played with more aggression and hit closer to the lines in a second set that featured some high-quality exchanges.
The world No. 87 broke for the first time then backed up the break for a 4-1 second-set lead. Nieminen was one point from a 5-1 lead, but Djokovic faced the challenge head on. He attacked net and blocked a backhand volley crosscourt to save the break. Djokovic slid a timely ace down the middle, eventually holding for 2-4.
A tremendous defensive stand from the two-time finalist saw Djokovic dig out everything Nieminen threw at him, earning break point. Djokovic broke for 4-5. He fired a forehand down the line breaking again for 6-5 before snatching a second set that seemed to be slipping away 20 minutes earlier.
A seven-game surged saw Djokovic take charge with a 4-0 third-set lead.
Closure did not come easily. Nieminen saved three match points and earned two break points when Djokovic served for the second round at 5-2.
The top seed never lost sight of the finish line. He slashed a service winner to close in two hours, two minutes. Djokovic will play either Gilles Muller or Paolo Lorenzi in the second round.