Novak Djokovic experienced the lowest of lows, pulling out of the French Open after tearing the meniscus in his right knee, and the highest of highs, winning a long-sought Olympic gold medal for Serbia, at Roland-Garros last year.
This year, other than some first-set interruptions by -- and lengthy discussions about -- the windy, wet weather, the 24-time major champion was unbothered during a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory over 98th-ranked Mackie McDonald of the United States at Court Philippe-Chatrier in the first round Tuesday.
"He makes it seem like a video game, almost, for him," said McDonald, a 30-year-old Californian who played college tennis at UCLA and twice has been to the fourth round at Grand Slam tournaments. "He's able to just do so much. I don't even think he was playing his best tennis or his highest level. But if I pushed him to a different point, he would bring it up."
One example: When McDonald earned his first break points, getting to love-40 at 3-2 in the second set, Djokovic came up with three big serves, a 120 mph ace, a 123 mph ace and a 122 mph service winner.
Djokovic compiled 32 winners -- 18 more than McDonald -- and just 20 unforced errors in a match that eventually was played with the lights on and the retractable roof closed.
"I'm a competitor, and losing stings," McDonald said, "but playing Novak on that court is something I'll remember."
Before Djokovic, who just turned 38 and won his 100th career title last weekend, walked onto the playing surface, he was identified by the stadium announcer by his total number of Slam trophies, the three he has won at the French Open and the Summer Games gold he earned "here in Paris."
"I still remember last year's Olympic Games," Djokovic said afterward. "It was the last time I was here. The emotion is very strong."
The medal that means so much to him?
"I don't have the medal with me. But I have a picture of the medal in my bag," he said. "The medal is with my father. My dad likes trophies more than I do, so I gave him mine."
Other winners included the No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, but 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded 11th, lost to Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 across nearly four hours.
Other seeded men were sent home when João Fonseca, the 18-year-old from Brazil, dispatched No. 30 Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and when No. 16 Grigor Dimitrov quit while leading American qualifier Ethan Quinn two sets to one. This is the fourth consecutive major tournament at which Dimitrov retired.
Fonseca needed just 1 hour, 40 minutes to wrap up the victory in the first French Open match of his career, producing more than twice as many winners, 36, as unforced errors, 15, and repeatedly delivering booming forehands.
All along, Fonseca heard plenty of support from the Brazilians who haven't had a Grand Slam champion to cheer for since Gustavo Kuerten was winning three French Open titles in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
Fonseca, the 2023 US Open junior champion and currently ranked 65th, played his first match in the main draw of a major at the Australian Open in January, when he knocked off No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev.
Later Tuesday, Frenchman Gael Monfils rallied from two sets down and beat Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) 6-1, in a match that lasted more than three hours.
Monfils was injured on the fifth point of the match when he fell and crashed into a side billboard. The 38-year-old Monfils was moving to his right as he returned a shot into the net. He scraped his hands trying to break his fall and required a few minutes of medical treatment before play resumed.
Monfils, ranked 42nd in the world and with a history of right knee and leg injuries, was a point away from breaking the 90th-ranked Dellien's serve and ended up losing the game and going behind 3-0 in the first set.
After dropping the second set, Monfils battled back and, helped by a 19-2 advantage in aces, advanced to the second round.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.