French Open: Novak Djokovic secures easy win in Roland Garros opener

Novak Djokovic secured an easy 6-3 6-4 6-4 win against Rogerio Dutra Silva to move to round two of the French Open on Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday.

The 2016 champion is working his way back to form after a largely disappointing season blighted by an elbow injury. He hit 37 winners to reach the second round for the 14th consecutive year in Paris.

Djokovic was much better than his unfancied Brazilian opponent and controlled points from the baseline and showed neat touches around the court. However, he lost his three times too.

In his quest to become the first men's player in the Open era to win each of the Grand Slams twice, Djokovic, who underwent surgery on his elbow after January's Australian Open, looked unhappy even when he was stroking winners past his opponent.

"You don't always get to feel your best but all you can do is try and get the best out of it," the Serbian told a packed Philippe Chatrier court.

Djokovic, who didn't play a competitive match between Wimbledon last July and Melbourne, endured a tough run into Roland Garros. He fell in the second rounds at Barcelona and Madrid before reaching the semi-finals in Rome, where he was defeated by world number one Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic has never lost to a player ranked as low as Dutra Silva at number 134, but the claycourt specialist pushed his opponent around the court drawing frequent outbursts of frustration from the Serb.

"He's a fighter. It was a good test for the first match," Djokovic told a news conference.

The 2016 Roland Garros champion said he felt he was beginning to play better and free of pain after "a long 12 months". 

This year is the first that Djokovic has not won a tour-level title prior to the French Open.

Asked if the tour was too demanding on players he replied: "The fact is we have the longest season of all sports and that is unfortunately hurting a lot of players.

"We all try to be fit, get our bodies and mind in the best possible state so we can always compete at the highest level but it's not always possible."

Djokovic faces Spain's unseeded Jaume Munar in the second round.