PARIS (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic easily beat Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-2, 6- 0, 6-2 at the French Open on Thursday to set up a thirdround match against rising star Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.
Djokovic has won every Grand Slam title except the French Open and has made this year’s tournament his priority.
The match on center court was delayed and interrupted by afternoon rain.
The 26th-seeded Dimitrov earlier beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-1.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands skipped backward across the clay, her wagging tongue framed by a smile as she savored yet another surprising victory for American tennis at the French Open.
Rejuvenated by a rain delay, Mattek-Sands rallied past 2011 champion Li Na 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round at Roland Garros.
Joining her Thursday were No. 54-ranked Jamie Hampton, who matched her best Grand Slam showing by beating Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 7-5, 6-2, and No. 17 Sloane Stephens, who defeated fellow American Vania King 6-1, 6-3.
Melanie Oudin of the United States lost to Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-1.
No. 3 Victoria Azarenka, the Australian Open champion each of the past two years, beat Annika Beck 6-4, 6-3.
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