Djokovic wins in front of son

Top seed and world number one Novak Djokovic cruised into the French Open third round on Thursday and admitted it had been an emotional day playing for the first time in front of his four-year-old son.

Djokovic, bidding to become just the second man to hold all four Slams at the same time twice, cruised to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 win over Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen.

Watching from the player’s box on Court Suzanne Lenglen was Djokovic’s son Stefan.

“It’s a very special day for me as it’s the first time in my life that I have played in front of my son,” said the 32-year-old Serb.

“He showed incredible patience to sit there for an hour and a half.”

Djokovic goes on to face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso, ranked 147, for a place in the last 16 in Paris.

Caruso, 26, upset French 26th seed Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round of a Slam for the first time.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams put her nervy start to the French Open behind her by thrashing Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara to step up her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

The 37-year-old cruised into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Williams will face Sofia Kenin for a last-16 spot, after her fellow American received a walkover following Canadian Bianca Andreescu’s withdrawal through injury.

“I’m very serious when I play, but I’m happy,” she said.

A mouthwatering quarterfinal clash with Naomi Osaka, who famously beat Williams in a dramatic 2018 US Open final, remains a possibility after the world number one’s thrilling three-set win over Victoria Azarenka.

World number one Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world number one Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.