By Richard Pagliaro | Monday May 28, 2018
Arriving in Paris last year, Novak Djokovic was eager for a new era.
Today, the 2016 champion was aiming for Roland Garros renewal.
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Djokovic dispatched 134th-ranked qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, reaching the French Open second round for the 14th straight year.
It was Djokovic's 60th career Roland Garros victory and it came with the unfamilar seeding of No. 20 next to his name.
Djokovic served 69 percent and converted six of 11 break-point chances against the 34-year-old veteran, whose lone French Open main-draw victory came last year.
Armed with a 1-16 career record against Top 30 opponents, Dutra Silva surprised breaking in the opening game and confirming the break for 2-0.
After that sputtering start, Djokovic began driving the ball with more depth reeling off six of the next seven games to snatch a one-set lead.
It wasn't an immaculate performance for Djokovic, who hit 37 winners against 36 unforced errors.
One sign of Djokovic's depleted confidence this season has been a rash of rally-ball errors.
Serving for a two-set lead, the Serbian sailed a forehand. Dutra Silva followed with a sensational backhand strike down the line for break point.
In an intense18-shot rally that followed, Djokovic spun a confounding short-angled forehand crosscourt. Dutra Silva ran it down and wrapped a shot around the net post, but Djokovic anticipated and smacked his two-hander crosscourt punctuating a pulsating rally that left both men smiling in acknowledgement of a superb point and vocal crowd support.
Undaunted, Djokovic went right back to work on the Brazilian's backhand.
By then, Dutra Silva's grunt sounded like a slightly desperate scream of a man withstanding an assault.
Cornering his opponent with a series of aggressive drives, Djokovic drew three successive backhand errors bolting to a two-set lead.
Controlling the center of the court, Djokovic was draining errors from the world No. 134 as he broke for a 3-2 third-set lead.
Still, the 12-time Grand Slam champion showed some frustration. When Dutra Silva broke back for 4-all, a perturbed Djokovic rapped a ball off the sponsor signage on the side wall.
Venting helped soothe the Serbian. Djokovic broke back for 5-4 and closed at out the two hour, five-minute victory at 15.
Last May, Djokovic landed in Paris accompanied by a new coach, Andre Agassi, new Lacoste apparel after splitting with Uniqlo and a new approach. Djokovic wound up bowing to Dominic Thiem in the 2017 French Open quarterfinals, his earliest exit since 2010.
Now, the 31-year-old Serbian is reunited with original pro coach Marian Vajda seeking to recapture the form that made him a 12-time Grand Slam champion.
His 60th Roland Garros victory was also his 794th career triumph. Six more wins would mean a second Roland Garros crown and a magical 800th career victory.
Given his struggles this year following elbow surgery in February, the Rome semifinalist is not looking past anyone. Djokovic's last Grand Slam title came at the 2016 French Open.
Djokovic, who has contested the quarterfinals or better eight years in a row, will meet either former French Open finalist David Ferrer or Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar in the second round.