Djokovic and Sabalenka soar, Roland Garros bans alcohol in stands

Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic powered into the third round of the French Open on Thursday as tournament organizers cracked down on unruly fans by announcing an alcohol ban in the stands while also dealing with headaches caused by wet weather.

Playing under the roof on Philippe Chatrier even as Roland Garros authorities were scratching their heads over what to do with the rest of the schedule after a fifth straight rain-hit day, second seed Sabalenka of Belarus blew away Japan's Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-2.

In the men's draw, defending champion Djokovic was very briefly made to work hard by unseeded Roberto Carballes Baena before he took the match 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Djokovic has been some way from his convincing best in an erratic season where he is bidding to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and the Serb was dragged into a battle by the Spaniard after recovering from an early break.

Having nosed ahead on serve in the ninth game, the 37-year-old set up break point with a big overhead smash after a 24-shot rally and pounced to take the first set as spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier sensed a return to a more familiar level.

Djokovic moved up a few notches in the next set for a 4-0 lead before his 31-year-old opponent even got on the board and the three-time Roland Garros champion tightened his vice-like grip on the contest in double quick time.

The pair's previous two encounters were both at hard court majors but the outcome was no different on Parisian clay as Djokovic sauntered ahead 5-1 in the third set and wrapped up the victory.

In other action on Thursday, seeds Alexander Zverev (Germany), Daniil Medvedev (Russia), Casper Ruud (Norway), Tommy Paul (USA), Holger Rune (Denmark), Alex de Minaur (Australia), Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan), Marketa Vondrousova (the Czech Republic) and Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) also advanced to the next round.

(With input from Reuters)