Djokovic Survives Early Scare In Indian Wells
Djokovic Survives Early Scare In Indian Wells
Djokovic overcomes slow start to advance into the third round
Novak Djokovic withstood an upset bid from a feisty American and kept his run at history alive at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday night. Djokovic, who’s looking to become the first player to win the tournament five times, took care of Bjorn Fratangelo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to advance into the third round.
The second-round match was Djokovic’s first ATP World Tour contest since he retired against Feliciano Lopez last month in Dubai because of an infection in both eyes. The Serbian showed a bit of rust.
Djokovic sprayed 18 unforced errors in the first set, and won only 12 of the 23 points he served. Fratangelo, a qualifier who was seeking his second ATP World Tour win, arrived ready to play against the No. 1 seed. The 22-year-old American took care of his serve in the opening stanza and erased all three break points he faced. He, not Djokovic, also was dictating play and keeping his opponent behind the baseline.
“He came out with a good game plan,” Djokovic said. “I started awful.”
But in the second set, it was a new match. Djokovic earned his first and second breaks. He also won 16 of the 17 points he served and dropped his unforced error count to a more customary four. In 25 minutes, he had evened the match.
“I managed to regroup in the second,” Djokovic said.
During the third set, Fratangelo fought back. Djokovic broke him in the first game, but the American played an inspiring game, matching Djokovic’s rallies and breaking the Serb back. But Djokovic earned another break at 2-all, a lead he would not relinquish.
“I think the fifth game in the third was the deciding one,” Djokovic said. “That break obviously meant that I can start to feel a bit more comfortable.”
Djokovic will next meet German Philipp Kohlschreiber, a ruthless 6-0, 6-1 winner over American Denis Kudla. The 27th seed won 86 per cent of first-serve points in the 45-minute rout. Djokovic will carry a 7-1 FedEx Head2Head record into his match with the German.
In an all-Spanish clash, 18th seed Lopez landed a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in one hour and six minutes. Lopez struck eight aces and saved both break points he faced.
He will meet another of his countryman in the third round, Roberto Bautista Agut. The No. 14 seed progressed with a walkover after Russian Mikhail Youzhny withdrew due to illness.