Novak Djokovic has recently stated that he needed an important win (and a good week) to restore his confidence. The former world no.1 had that on Monday when he defeated Kei Nishikori in the 1st round in Madrid.
The match
Nole didn’t have a fantastic start. The former world no.1 held his serve in a very nervous first game after saving 2 break points. Later he lost his serve in the 5th game at love (2-3), but he was quick to get the break back in the following game (3-3). The struggle on his serve ended in the 7th game when Djokovic saved another couple of break points (4-3), but from that moment on Nole was much more stable on serve to win the first set 7-5.
The second set was much more “regular” on serve. The Serbian conquered the decisive and only break in the 10th game to win the match 7-5 6-4. The contest ended after 2 hours.
It was a big test. DJOKOVIC
Soon after the match, Nole commented
“It was different to play him in the first round. It was a big test for both of us. I’m glad that match went my way, but it could have gone his way as well.
It was a very few points that really decided a winner today. I managed to play the right shots in the important moments. In both first and second set, I made breaks, you know, to win both sets at the really final stages of both sets.”
In the second round, Djokovic will face either the world no.22 Kyle Edmund or Daniil Medvedev (51).
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