DJOKOVIC THROUGH IN MEXICO ON RETURN
Acapulco, March 1: Former world number one Novak Djokovic was made to work hard before finishing strongly as he defeated Martin Klizan in straight sets on his return to competition at the ATP Acapulco event on Tuesday.
Djokovic has not played since his shock second round exit at the Australian Open in January, and showed signs of ring-rustiness before defeating Klizan 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
The 29-year-old Serbian started slowly and was forced to save two break points in the third game of the first set before hanging on for a 2-1 lead. He had to save a further break point in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead but then swiftly punished world number 62 Klizan with a break to go 4-2 up and claim the opening set.
Klizan suffered a break in the opening game of the second but came back strongly to break Djokovic twice. But the 27-year-old Slovak’s composure deserted him and Djokovic broke back and took the match in tiebreak.
Elsewhere Tuesday, another former world number one Rafael Nadal eased into the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Germany’s Mischa Zverev. London: World number one Andy Murray is against giving wild cards to players returning from doping bans but the 29year-old understands why tournament organisers make an exception for “big names”.
Maria Sharapova, currently serving a 15-month ban, has been given wild-card slots for tournaments
Australia’s Bernard Tomic retired against American Donald Young, after losing the first set 76 (7/5), citing heat. Nick Kyrgios rallied to defeat Israel’s Dudi Sela 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 while Marin Cilic advanced to with a 6-3, 46, 6-0 win over Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine.
Murray dominant Dubai: World number one in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome. With her ban ending in April, Wimbledon organisers are grappling with the potential dilemma of whether to hand the 2004 champion a place in this year’s competition.
“I think you should really have to work your way back. However, the majority of tournaments Andy Murray eased into the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday on his return five weeks after suffering a shock Australian Open exit.
The top seed, now fully fit after a bout of shingles, beat Malek Jaziri 64, 6-1. Murray will now face Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Wednesday. are going to do what they think is best for their event,” Murray told the Times newspaper.
“She (Sharapova) has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking up until that point and potentially not need a wild card. But if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision,” added the Briton.