Miami – Novak Djokovic fought to hold off Martin Klizan 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 on Saturday to start the quest for another North American spring title double as he reached the third round of the Miami Masters.
The top-ranked Serb got halfway to his goal last weekend as he beat Roger Federer in the final of the Indian Wells Masters. Djokovic claimed the one-two in 2014 and 2011 and is aiming to become the first man in ATP history to achieve the feat three times.
The omens look good for the winner of eight grand slam titles.
“I hope to have another great week in Miami,” Djokovic said. “Over the last eight, nine years I have been coming back to Miami and playing the tournament, with a good record. I’ve played some of my best tennis on these courts.
“I think right now I found the right balance, and I’m at the peak of my career and my abilities. Hopefully I can maintain that for the time to come.”
Djokovic took just 23 minutes to win the opening set and claimed the first seven games of the contest.
But he failed to serve out a straight-sets win while leading a set and 5-3 and needed to go into a third to get the job done in just under two hours with a strong comeback.
The Serb now owns 20 wins this season and 31 in Miami. He next plays Belgian Steve Darcis, who defeated Gilles Muller 6-4, 5-7 (2-7), 6-3.
Japanese men’s fourth seed Kei Nishikori beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-1, with the Asian ace facing an unusual challenge post-match as he was asked to pose with a stray bulldog, which has been adopted as a tournament mascot.
“Just met Manny The Frenchie! He is very famous. I think more fans than me,” Asia’s top player and the 2014 US Open finalist tweeted.
Number five Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1, 6-4; Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer hammered Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-1, 6-1.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the number 11, will line up against good friend Gael Monfils, after both advanced.
Tsonga has been out of action since November with an arm injury. His return was a success with 10 aces and 30 winners in a victory over American Tim Smyczek 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
“I didn’t expect to play my best tennis today ever, but I’m happy the way I managed my match,” Tsonga said.
Monfils struggled before defeating Serb Filip Krajinovic 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). French 12th seed Gilles Simon beat Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-0.
Ernests Gulbis, seeded 14th, lost his seventh match of the season from eight played, going out 6-2, 6-4 to American Jack Sock, who is playing only his second event since returning from injury.
In women’s play, top seed Serena Williams played a match delayedb y rain a day earlier, beating Monica Niculescu for the second week in a row, a 6-3, 6-1 result.
Williams looked fit after being forced out of Indian Wells with a knee injury eight days ago.
“It was a little sore in practice, but it was OK today,” Williams said of her knee. “I really didn’t feel it today, to be honest. Once you step out on the court you have so much adrenaline going.
“The adrenaline kind of kills it. So I was surprised. I felt pretty good.”
The 33-year-old American next plays 15-year-old American CiCi Bellis, who won into the match of her life a on Friday.
Canadian sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard was dumped out in the second round 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) by German qualifier Tatjana Maria, ranked 113th.
Italian number 11 Sara Errani defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6 (7-5), and number 13 Angelique Kerber stopping Heather Watson 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
In the third round, fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Kaia Kanepi 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova defeated Elina
Svitolina 6-0, 6-4, and German ninth seed Andrea Petkovic overwhelmed Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 6-2.
Russian Daria Gavrilova followed up her knockout of Maria Sharapova by beating Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). – Sapa-dpa