After an extended lull following the Upside Down Open, the second major of the tennis season kicked off teed off started off this week at Roland Garros. Thankfully, the French Open has picked up right where the Australian left things - Novak Djokovic is winning. The twenty-four year old Serbian and current world number two is winning a lot. Thirty-nine straight matches to start the 2011 season (but who's counting!?) after defeating Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-1, 3-2 (ret) in yesterday's second round action. He faces an early test against 2009 US Open Winner Juan Del Patro in the next round, but considering his current form it'd be rather shocking if Djokovic fails to reach the second week.
Elsewhere, the usual suspects of Nadal, Murray and Federer roll on, with only Nadal facing adversity in his first round match against American John Isner, the marathon man from last year's Wimbledon. With Andy Roddick absent (who surely would have lost within two rounds anyway) and the rest delivering typically disappointing clay court performances, American hopes at this point rest on Mardy Fish. Which is to say there is no hope. Huzzah!
On the women's side, Italian Francesca Schiavone finds herself in the odd position of being both defending champion and underdog. Her title defense got a bit of help today after number two seed Kim Clijsters delivered a horrid performance that ended her tournament early. Coupled with the absence of the Williams sisters, that's good news for number one seed Caroline Wozniacki as she seeks to disprove the haters and win her first major (she wont).
A relatively upset-free first week should lead to a bevy of good match-ups next week so be sure to tune in.