If anyone at the French Open needed a reminder, Novak Djokovic was on court to show what champions are made of.
Returning to Roland Garros a year after he lost in the final to Rafael Nadal, the Serb posted a convincing 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 victory over 87th-ranked Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday. More significantly, he raised his game in a blink of an eye when he needed to.
For the second time in three years, Venus Williams lost in the first round at the French Open.
Venus, who was beaten by younger sister Serena in the 2002 final, lost 7-6 (5), 6-1 to the 40th-ranked Sloane Stephens, a 22-year-old up-and-coming American player.