Tennis: Djokovic closer to French title

The world's top player Novak Djokovic yesterday moved effortlessly closer to a first French Open victory while 2011 women's champion Li Na crashed out at a rain-ravaged Roland Garros.

Four rain stoppages and then a final call-off meant there were only five hours of play on a frustrating day which left current women's champion Maria Sharapova stranded in her second-round match.

World No 9 Samantha Stosur progressed early in the day but fellow Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty started late, and was 3-3 against 12th seed Maria Kirilenko when play was stopped.

Men's top seed Djokovic wasted no time in setting up a mouth-watering clash with Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov for a final 16 place.

The Serb, bidding to win his first French Open and become just the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam, eased past Argentina's world No 83 Guido Pella 6-2, 6-0, 6-2.

Dimitrov, the 26th seed, will be playing in the last 32 of a major for the first time after breezing past French wildcard Lucas Pouille, the world No 324, in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

Djokovic lost to Dimitrov in the Madrid Masters second round early last month.

"Even though his style of game could be better on the hard court or faster surfaces, he's showing that he can play equally well on clay," said Djokovic.

"Here it's best of five. It's going to be very physical and all the hard work that I put into preparations for this tournament hopefully will play to my advantage and will pay off on the court."

Chinese star Li went down 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 to brash American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in what was the 31-year-old's earliest defeat at the tournament in seven appearances.

- AAP