Five-time champion Novak Djokovic defeated world no.59 Simone Bolelli 6-1 6-1 in the first round of the China Open on Tuesday.
The top seed came into the match holding a 3-0 advantage in the pair’s Head2Head series. He improved the record in one hour and 11 minutes, breaking the Italian 5 times from 10 opportunities, and saving all five break points he faced during the match.
“I thought I played on a very high level considering it’s my first official match after the US Open,” said Novak. “Obviously in the first matches you still don’t know how you’re going to start out. It takes time for you to adjust to the conditions and so forth. I came out with a great intensity, played some of my best tennis on this court, and managed to win against a player that I thought was playing well.”
Match statistics: aces (7-2), double faults (0-1), winners (22-14), unforced errors (14-17).
Next up for the 28-year-old Serbian star is world no.219, Chinese wild card Ze Zhang, who eliminated Denis Istomin in three sets 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. It will be their first career meeting.
Novak teamed up with his brother Djordje in the doubles competition. They beat Mao-Xin Gong (CHN) and Michael Venus (NZL) 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 10-5 in the first round, and go on to face Vasek Pospisil (CAN) and Jack Sock in quarter-finals.
“We both have waited a lifetime to team up. I’m glad I get to have Djordje on this side of the net.”
Photo: Getty Images
