Djokovic Defeats Fellow Countryman Troicki to Advance at Dubai Championships
February 26, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
World number one-ranked Novak Djokovic returned to action at the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, reaching the second round of the event after a 6-1, 6-4 victory over fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki. Djokovic was playing his first match since appearing alongside Troicki in Davis Cup action at the start of the month. He improved to a 9-0 to date in 2013, having retained his Australian Open title in January with a win over Andy Murray.
"I had three or four weeks of no tennis, so I was extremely focused to start well and I did really well in the first set," said Djokovic. "I was right behind his serve and I’m very satisfied with my performance and hopefully I can continue."
In recording his 13th win in 14 meetings with Troicki, Djokovic converted four of his nine break points and won 82 percent of points behind his first serve. Djokovic is bidding to win in Dubai for the fourth time, following three successive victories in 2009-2011.
Also into the second round is Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, who saved three match points on his way to beating Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. The fourth-seeded Del Potro recovered from 4-1 down in the deciding set, the Argentine’s superior ground strokes ultimately wearing down his Cypriot opponent as dusk fell.
"Marcos also deserved to win but the luck was behind me and I played better in the big moments," Del Potro said. "In the tie-break I was solid."
