PARIS: Novak Djokovic got his quest for an 18th Grand Slam title back on track as he commenced his French Open campaign with a drama-free 6-0 6-2 6-3 victory over Mikael Ymer on Tuesday.Little over three weeks since Djokovic was defaulted in the US Open fourth round for hitting a line judge with a ball, he was a model of self-control as he outclassed the young Swede.Had Court Philippe Chatrier been packed with fans rather than just a smattering on Tuesday because of the COVID-19 restrictions, Djokovic might have expected some heckling from the sometimes fickle post-lunch French audience.Instead, it was as gentle a return to the Grand Slam spotlight as the 33-year-old top seed could have wished for as he charmed the tiny audience with his silky repertoire.The first set took only 20 minutes as Ymer struggled to even lay a glove on the 2016 champion.Djokovic did drop serve early in the second set when an attempted drop shot fell short but there was no tetchy response this time, just an ironic chuckle.The Serb then led the applause for Ymer when the 22-year-old ran back to retrieve a lob-volley and played a showreel between-the-legs winner Nick Kyrgios would have been proud of in the sixth game.But it was one-way traffic as Djokovic polished off the second set with his trademark clean hitting.The 80th-ranked Ymer, facing a world number one for the first time, stuck manfully to his task in the third set and Djokovic became a little sloppy as he handed back a service break with a double-fault after which he flexed his hand.Djokovic glared at someone in the crowd in the following game but refocused to reel off the last three games for victory and set up a clash with Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis.Djokovic was odds-on to win the US Open, with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer absent, and move within one Grand Slam title of the Spaniard and two behind the Swiss who is not in Paris.The script was ripped from his grasp though when a frustrated swipe at a ball resulted in it accidentally hitting a female line judge in the throat.Since that humiliation, however, Djokovic has rebounded to win the Rome title and with the damp Parisian clay playing more like a slow hardcourt, it looks tailor-made for the Serb to end 12-time champion Nadal’s Roland Garros domination.
William Troost-Ekong: Nigeria international joins Watford from Udinese
After two seasons with the Italian top-flight side, the Nigeria international has teamed up with the English Championship outfit
Nigeria international William Troost-Ekong has completed a permanent switch to English Championship side Watford from Udinese.
The centre-back who featured in 66 Italian top-flight games having previously moved from Turkish Super Lig outfit Bursaspor, is the latest addition to the Vicarage Stadium outfit – and penned a five-year deal with Vladimir Ivic’s team for an undisclosed amount.
Born and raised in England, the 27-year-old started his professional career in the Dutch elite division with Groningen and Dordrecht before heading to Gent and Haugesund respectively.
He joins compatriots Tom Dele-Bashiru and Isaac Success in Hertfordshire and has been handed the No. 5 jersey.
Troost-Ekong is expected to play a crucial role in the team’s return to the Premier League.
Speaking on his move to England, the defender attributed the transfer to his ambition of featuring in the English elite division.
“I believe in the project for Watford to get back into the Premier League,” Troost-Ekong told BBC Sport Africa.
“It’s always been my dream to play in the Premier League and Watford has given me the platform now to get there. Looking at the squad, I believe we have the quality to do it.
“I’ve always made tactical decisions for my career and this felt like the right step now for me and my family.
“As for my international future, I have shown what I can add to the Super Eagles. I have consistently contributed to the team’s success in the last five years and have had the pleasure of captaining the team.”
Despite featuring for the Netherlands at U19 and U20 levels, he pledged his international allegiance to Nigeria and he made his debut in an Africa Cup of Nations game against Chad on June 13, 2015.
Troost-Ekong also played a sterling role in Nigeria U23’s third-place finish at the 2016 Olympics staged in Rio. In addition, he featured for the Super Eagles in the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia as well as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Egypt.
Watford also confirmed the arrival of Guinea youth international Djibril Toure. The 17-year-old, however, will join the club on January 1, 2021 from Ceffomig FC.