Djokovic, 37, of Serbia easily won 6-4 6-1 6-2 on another soggy Paris day.
It guaranteed that, for the nineteenth year running, he would make it to the final 32 of the clay-court Grand Slam.
After a challenging year, the three-time champion’s form was under scrutiny when he came at Roland Garros.
This season, Djokovic has not made it to a final. “There is always conviction and belief inside of me [that] I can win a Grand Slam,” he stated.
“I’m still competing at this level because of that. I’m here for that reason.
“I wouldn’t really be competing at this age.”
at the Slams and carrying on with my professional tennis career if I didn’t think I had what it takes to make it all the way to the championship match.”
Against 63rd-ranked Carballes Baena, Djokovic may have played some of his greatest tennis of the year, but he is aware that more difficult matches are still to come.
Similar to his first encounter against Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, he was not at his best, but he raised his game to win in straight sets once more.
Djokovic lost service in the opening game of the match while playing on Court Philippe Chatrier beneath the roof, but he soon found his game in the cold weather.
Djokovic’s success has been characterized by his ability to strike when it mattered most.
