Djokovic not getting 'too excited' after opening win

Before he began his Roland Garros title defence, Novak Djokovic said he would enter the tournament with "low expectations and high hopes". After his 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 opening win against Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Tuesday, nothing has changed about his outlook.

"I still stay with it," he said of his previous assessment. "Monte-Carlo, Rome and Geneva tournaments started really well for me. First matches I played were great. Then second
matches, third matches were quite different. So I don't want to get too excited.

"I thought it was a good performance for me, solid. Of course I could have done better, I think, on return games, but also credit to him for serving very well, for changing things up."

Djokovic acknowledged his opponent's part in making the match difficult, singling out Herbert's kick serve and net game. But for all of the Frenchman's success, which was roared on by the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd, Djokovic had all the answers in the clutch moments.

"In the moments when it mattered I think I delivered, played a great tie-break, stayed focused," he said. "I'm glad that I started the way I started, the way I felt on the court. Comparing to the previous weeks of tournaments I played, I felt good, better. So I'm moving in a positive direction. It's just the beginning."

While he continued to stress that it was only one match, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings was particularly pleased with his mindset in his second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Herbert.

"I was fist pumping, I was focused, I was there, I was present," he reflected. "So I'm pleased with the way at least I behaved or had a mindset on the court. That was something that I was looking for. And where are you going to feel that way if not in Grand Slams?"

Djokovic will next meet Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round, with Lorenzo Musetti or Gael Monfils potentially beyond that in the third round. The Serbian must reach at least the final in order to have a chance to hold off Jannik Sinner and remain World No. 1 following the tournament.