Paris: Roger Federer racked up a record-equalling 59th career win at the French Open on Sunday. Federer kicked off his 16th consecutive Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko, his first victory since becoming a father of twins for the second time.
The 32-year-old Swiss, who won his only Paris title in 2009, was watched by wife Mirka and older twins Myla and Charlene but not three-week old Lenny and Leo. Sunday’s triumph was also his 59th at Roland Garros, tying eight-time champion Rafael Nadal as the tournament’s all-time win specialist.
Federer was never troubled by Lacko, the world number 88 who has not won a claycourt match for three years. He hit 40 winners and goes on to face either Portugal’s Gastao Elias or Diego Sebastian Schwartzman of Argentina for a place in the last 32.
The Results
Men’s singles 1st round: Milos Raonic bt Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3; Oleksandr Nedovyesov bt Somdev Devvarman 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny bt Pablo Carreo 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0; Roger Federer bt Luks Lacko 6-2, 6-4, 6-2; Tomas Berdych bt Peter Polansky 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
