Sinner, Djokovic cruise into French Open 4th round

PARIS -- Novak Djokovic reached the fourth round of the French Open for the 16th consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over qualifier Filip Misolic on Saturday night in a match marked by noise from Paris Saint-Germain fans cheering for goals as they watched the Champions League final on their phones.

There also were frequent sounds of fireworks popping from Paris Saint-Germain's stadium, which is just a few blocks from Court Philippe-Chatrier. The French club won its first championship in the top soccer competition for European clubs, beating Italy's Inter Milan 5-0.

During one lengthy tennis point in the third set, some shouts accompanied PSG's fourth goal, and afterward, the chair umpire asked spectators to keep it down, drawing boos and whistles from the stands.

Djokovic has never lost to anyone ranked as low as the No. 153 Misolic at a Grand Slam tournament, and this one was never really in doubt. There was just a slight delay for him to take control: In the second game, with Misolic serving, Djokovic held seven break points -- and failed to convert any.

That made it 1-all. But Djokovic kept accumulating break chances and, eventually, cashed in on his 10th, to lead 4-2. That was essentially that.

Against a man 15 years his junior, who was appearing in only his second Grand Slam tournament, the 38-year-old Djokovic made only 14 unforced errors -- compared to 33 winners -- and saved the only break point he faced.

Djokovic improved his career record at the French Open to 99-16, equaling his number of match wins at the Australian Open.

He's won three of his 24 major championships in Paris.

Djokovic will try to reach the quarterfinals by beating Cam Norrie on Monday. Djokovic is 5-0 against Norrie, including a win at the Geneva Open the week before the French Open en route to the Serb's 100th career trophy.

Earlier Saturday, Jannik Sinner extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches after dominating Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 in 1 hour, 34 minutes, the quickest men's match at Roland-Garros this year.

"We try to improve," Sinner said. "Today, I don't think there are many things I can improve."

He can say that again.

Sinner delivered 31 winners and made only nine unforced errors. He accumulated 18 break points, converting seven, and faced just one, which he saved.

The first 11 games went Sinner's way. When Sinner missed a return wide, making the score 6-0, 5-1 after 55 minutes of action, Lehecka raised his arm and pumped his fist in a bit of sarcastic celebration. The fans went wild, rising out of their seats and clapping and shouting, eliciting a smile from Lehecka.

Make no mistake, though. Lehecka is no also-ran. The 23-year-old from Czechia is ranked 34th and has been a Grand Slam quarterfinalist.

But he was completely overmatched by Sinner, who has won the past two major championships -- at the US Open in September and the Australian Open in January -- and is now the owner of an unbeaten run at the sport's most important tournaments that has been surpassed this century only by a trio of guys by the names of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Sinner's bid for a first French Open title, and fourth Slam trophy overall, will continue Monday, when he will face No. 17 Andrey Rublev for a quarterfinal berth. Rublev advanced when his opponent, No. 14 Arthur Fils, withdrew from the tournament because of a stress fracture in his lower back.

American qualifier Ethan Quinn, the 2023 NCAA champion for Georgia, played his second consecutive five-setter and was beaten by Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4. Griekspoor came into the day 0-4 in third-round matches at majors.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.