Novak Djokovic has got off to a winning start at the Acapulco Open after fighting his way past Martin Klizan 6-3, 7-6(4), in the first round.
Playing in his first match since his shock loss at the Australian Open, the world No.2 was pushed to his limits in the first round encounter. Just one sole break separated the two players throughout the first set as Djokovic fended off a quartet of breakpoints on route to the 6-3 advantage after 37 minutes.
Boasting the lead, the top seed then had to overcome some fierce resistance from his Slovakian rival. Klizan, who recently reached back-to-back quarterfinals on the ATP Tour, secured a double break in the second set to surge to 4-2. Facing danger, Djokovic responded accordingly by breaking back to love against his inconsistent opponent. The Serbian then broke two further times in the tiebreaker to seal the match.
“I wasn’t expecting an easy match, that’s for sure,” said Djokovic. “The field here is very strong and I got a collision in the first round against a guy who is well known for playing his best tennis on the big stage.
“But all in all it was a good performance to win in straight sets. A tough second set but it’s exactly what I needed at this moment to test myself and my game and I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”
Throughout the encounter Djokovic managed to produce only nine winners, but benefited substantially from Klizan’s unforced error count of 30.
Djokovic next faces a mouth-watering showdown against Juan Martin del Potro, whom he suffered a straight sets loss to at the Rio Olympics. The Argentine required two-and-a-half hours to overcome America’s Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1), in his opening match.
Australian Open runner-up Rafael Nadal enjoyed a smoother route into the second round during his opening match. The Spanish world No.6 required 77 minutes to dismiss Mischa Zverev 6-4, 6-3. Nadal, who is also playing his first tour match since Melbourne, remained unbroken throughout the entire encounter.
Firing 28 winners past Zverev and winning 80% of his first service points, Nadal later explained that he hopes Acapulco will bring him similar luck to what it has done for him in the past.
“All victories are important. Acapulco always gives me a lot of energy, very positive. I come here and the reception is always fantastic,” said Nadal according to El Mundo.
“Not that I am superstitious, but the two times that I played here, in 2005 and 2013, have been the best years of my career,” he later added.
Nadal will next play Paolo Lorenzi, a player who he defeated in straight sets twice last year.
Elsewhere at the tournament, Rio Open champion Dominic Thiem continued his winning run with a tough 7-6(7), 6-3, win over France’s Gilles Simon and Marin Cilic outlasted Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
Mexico Open R1 results
Marin Cilic (CRO) def Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) def Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Donald Young (USA) def Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-6 (5) retirement
Sam Querrey (USA) def Kyle Edmund (GBR) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) def Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) def Dudi Sela (ISR) for 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Dominic Thiem (AUT) def Gilles Simon (FRA) for 7-6 (7), 6-3
Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) def Jack Sock (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Juan Martín del Potro (ARG) def Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1)
