World no.2 Novak Djokovic knocked out no.123 in the ATP rankings Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2 in 1 hour and 58 minutes on Tuesday at the 2012 China Open in Beijing in his first match since finishing runner-up in the last month’s US Open final.
Nole hit 6 aces and converted 4 of his 7 break point opportunities to improve to a 61-11 match record on the season.
“In the first set I felt that I could return a lot of serves, which I did, and played a really good set,” said Djokovic. “Then I had a couple of break points in the first game of the second. He stayed with some big serves. That’s when I think he changed his tactics and his service games. He started mixing up more, and I had tough time to read it. I made little adjustment on the return, came closer to the line, and it paid off.”
Five-time Grand Slam champion goes onto face world no.50 Carlos Berlocq in the second round, on Wednesday at 19.30 local time. The Argentine beat Australian Marinko Matosevic in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Novak won their only previous encounter in the second round of the 2011 US Open
6-0, 6-0, 6-2.
The 25-year-old Serbian star has a perfect 10-0 event record and is bidding for his third title, having lifted the trophy in 2009 (d. Cilic) and 2010 (d. Ferrer).
Photo: ChinaFotoPress
