NOVAK DJOKOVIC took the handbrake off as he raced into the third round of the French Open on another rain-soaked afternoon in Paris yesterday.

The defending champion said he had “low expectations” going into Roland Garros following a disappointing season and he lived down to them in an unspectacular first-round win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

But Djokovic looked more like his relentless old self as he pummelled Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4 6-1 6-2 in round two.