Djokovic battles past qualifier Recouderc

PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) World number six Novak Djokovic needed four sets to move past French qualifier Laurent Recouderc 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-1 and reach the third round of the French Open today.

Sixth seed Djokovic, a quarter-finalist here last year and the revelation of 2007 with three titles, took over two hours to down world number 306 Recouderc, the lowest-ranked player left in the draw.

The rising Serb opened up a 3-0 lead in the first set and stayed in control to wrap it up with Recourderc netting a forehand on set point after 29 minutes.

The 20-year-old Djokovic broke Recouderc straight away in the second set but the Frenchman proved resilient, breaking back to level at 3-3 and taking the next three games to claim the set.

Djokovic threw his racket in disgust but soon bounced back, managing the telling break in the fourth game to take the third set.

The fourth set was a formality for Djokovic, who saw his brave but limited opponent bow out by hitting a backhand into the net on the first match point.

Djokovic next meets Frenchman Olivier Patience or Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta.

REUTERS BJR HS1728