09. 06. 2009. ·
Novak Djokovic started the grass season in singles with a win.
World no.4 and second seed at the tournament in Halle defeated world no.66 Italian Simone Bolelli in straight sets 7-5 6-2 in 85 minutes.
Bolelli had two break points in the third game of the first set, but Nole saved them. The Serb used his fourth break-set point in the 12th game to take it 7-5.
Nole was dominant in the second set. He broke his opponent’s service twice, in the fourth and eighth game to win it 6-2.
‘It was okay for the first match,’ the world no.4 said. ‘First matches are always difficult and it takes some time get used to the surface. On grass you move differently than on clay,’ he added.
‘Bolelli hit well. I was aware of his forehand. But he always found himself under pressure when serving and I used my chances’, Djokovic said.
Nole’s rival in the second round at the Gerry Weber Open will be world no.56 Florent Serra. The Frenchman beat Dudi Sela of Israel in three sets 1-6 6-4 6-2.
Djokovic and Sera have met twice. Their H2H is 1-1. Last time they played more than two years ago in the first round of the tournament in Rotterdam, Novak won 7-6 6-4.
