Novak Djokovic has continued his march towards a maiden French Open title courtesy of a routine straight-sets victory over Aljaz Bedene this evening.
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The world number one cruised to a 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory over the Brit to maintain his hope of winning the only Grand Slam title that has so far eluded him.
Djokovic wasted little time in gaining control of the contest, quickly moving into a 3-0 lead in the opening set before Bedene held serve to get himself on the board.
The world number 66 managed to create a break point of his own in the fifth game, but Djokovic held on and then won against serve in the final game of the set to wrap up the 6-2 win.
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Bedene was putting up an admirable fight, though, and Djokovic needed to save two more break points in the opening game of the second before going on to hold serve.
He later reeled off four games in a row to move 5-1 up, but Bedene then recorded his first break of the match and saved four set points in the very next game to give himself a stay of execution.
The Serbian only needed one more to take it 6-3, though, and he made a quick start to the final set too, breaking his British opponent in the first game to take another step towards the fourth round.
Bedene earned that break back in the fourth game, but then failed to hold on to his own serve in the very next game as Djokovic resumed control.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion then broke once more in the final game to wrap up the match at the first time of asking, setting up a fourth-round meeting with Roberto Bautista Agut.
Barney Corkhill
