Djokovic gives the elbow to Nishikori

TROUBLED Novak Djokovic battled to a morale-boosting victory in his latest comeback appearance yesterday as he beat Kei Nishikori in straight sets at the Madrid Open. The Serb, who has slipped down the rankings as he struggles with a right elbow injury, swept aside Nishikori 7-5, 6-4 in the first round after two hours on court. Kyle Edmund will face Djokovic in the next round if the Briton can overcome Russia’s Daniil Medvedev today. Djokovic, 30, was in action for the first time since his shock defeat by world No 140 Martin Klizan in Barcelona last month. He has not reached the last eight in his last five tournaments, but the draw could open up for him in Spain. Having avoided Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Dominic Thiem in his half of the draw — and seen off Nishikori — there is a sense Djokovic can have a big week. He was aggressive from the start yesterday and came out on top in an opening set full of baseline slogging. Nishikori denied Djokovic on two set points at 4-5 but could not stop him at the third time of asking at 5-6 and the world No 12 pounced. Djokovic missed the easiest of smashes midway through the second set — an age-old weakness — but it did not matter as he broke at the death to secure a huge win. Maria Sharapova, who won in Madrid in 2014, made it to the last 16 by defeating Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 in only her second match since January’s Australian Open. She has been dealing with a left forearm injury.