Other than some first-set interruptions by, and lengthy discussions about, the windy, wet weather, 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic 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 of the French Open.

“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.

Once Coco Gauff found her rackets, all was well for her in the first round. Gauff showed up on court, opened her bag and peered inside to find it was missing her rackets. The start of the warmup was delayed, but then everything went Gauff’s way, and the 2023 U.S. Open champion got past Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.

Unseeded American Alycia Parks, ranked 52nd in the world, beat No. 14 seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the women’s last match of the day. Muchova was the runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland-Garros in 2023. Other winners included the No. 3 seeds, Jessica Pegula and Alexander Zverev, and 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva, but 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded 11th, lost to Cam Norrie 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 1-6, 7-5 across nearly four hours.

WNBA

League can’t verify racist remarks in game

The WNBA says it cannot substantiate claims that racist fan behavior took place during a game in Indianapolis between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever earlier this month.

The league said its investigation included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an “audio and video review of the game.”

The WNBA, according to a person familiar with the investigation, was looking into claims that racist comments were directed toward Chicago’s Angel Reese by fans during the loss to WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Indiana won the game handily, 93-58.

Clark later said she did not hear any racist remarks during that game, but acknowledged that it was loud in Indiana’s arena throughout the game.

Bueckers gets first pro win in Connecticut

Paige Bueckers returned to a familiar place to get the first win of her WNBA career.

The No. 1 pick in the draft by the Dallas Wings had lost the first four games as a pro and couldn’t remember a longer losing streak in her storied basketball career. She wouldn’t let it get to five.

Bueckers scored a season-best 21 points in the Wings’ 109-87 victory over Connecticut.

“Felt great just to play like that as a team and obviously that environment is special to me,” the former UConn star said.

It’s been a week of homecomings for Bueckers as the former UConn star played in the state of Connecticut for the first time since helping the Huskies win the school’s 12th national championship nearly two months ago. Six days before the game in Connecticut, she played in Minnesota, where she grew up.

Baseball

Storm Chasers overcome Saints on the road

Omaha defeated St. Paul 7-5 in the first of the six-game series in Nebraska. The Saints had a steady start, up 4-0 at the end of the third inning, but the Storm Chasers’ strong seven-run punch in the fourth and fifth innings proved too much.

Jose Miranda landed three of the Saints’ seven hits for the evening, and got two RBI. St. Paul had both of the game’s home runs, from Matt Wallner in the first inning and Jeferson Morales in the second.

Cory Lewis started for the Saints, allowing three runs, all of them earned, on five hits over 3.2 innings. The Saints pitchers kept Omaha’s Top 10 prospect Jac Caglianone to 0-5.

— Staff report

Ohtani gets 20 homers in first 55 games

Shohei Ohtani became the third player in Dodgers history to reach 20 homers in the team’s first 55 games with a two-run drive during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians.

The Japanese star joined Gil Hodges (21 in 1951) and Cody Bellinger (20 in 2019) as Dodgers with at least 20 homers in the first 55 games. It is the 64th time a player in the majors did it in the same span, the first since the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso in 2023.

GOLF

PGA overhauls FedEx Cup finale

The PGA Tour voted to overhaul the season-ending Tour Championship so that all 30 players start from scratch and the low score on a tougher East Lake course wins the FedEx Cup.

The change is effective this year, with more tweaks still in the works. The announcement followed a PGA Tour board vote and a meeting of the Player Advisory Council that has been trying for more than six months to find a solution.

The primary goal was to get rid of the staggered start that none of the players seemed to like.

Since 2019, the leader of the FedEx Cup going to East Lake started at 10-under par before the tournament even began. That gave him a two-shot lead over the No. 2 player, and a staggered from there until the last five players who qualified for the 30-man field were at even par.

Now it will effectively be a 72-hole shootout — everyone starts at even par, just like any other tournament — with FedEx Cup going to the winner.

BRIEFLY

MLS >> Former Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela has announced his retirement, after seven seasons with Los Angeles FC, including four All-Star selections.

— From news services