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Djokovic bids to put the frighteners on Nadal

NOVAK Djokovic meets Victor Hanescu in the French Open second round today aiming to prove to stuttering rival Rafa Nadal that he is ready to steal his crown.

Top seed Nadal, bidding for a sixth Roland Garros title in seven years, endured his first five-set match on the Paris clay yesterday when he battled back to beat giant American John Isner.

"When I had the break and when I won the fourth, I know in the fifth (there) is no tiebreak. So I felt a little bit more confident for that," Nadal told reporters, highlighting a strength but also a weakness that players such as Djokovic will try to exploit.

World number two Djokovic, who has won 38 straight matches this year including two final victories over Nadal on clay, had no such problems in Monday's demolition of Thiemo De Bakker and Romanian Hanescu is the Serbian's next prey.

Record grand-slam title holder Roger Federer still has a part to play and he has an early start on Court Suzanne Lenglen against little-known Frenchman Maxime Teixeira, who may still generate a wave of support.

Women's top seed Caroline Wozniacki takes on Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada in a second-round clash while defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy is last on centre court against Russia's Vesna Dolonts.

Bright sunshine is forecast in western Paris throughout today when the spectator galleries will be thronging again.




 

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