May 6, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Novak Djokovic has extended his 2011 season-opening winning streak to 29 matches at the Madrid Open, equaling the best start in men’s tennis in 25 years. In his match in Madrid, he won all 21 of his first service points to defeat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 6-1, 6-2 and advance to the quarterfinals of the event. Other players advancing to the quarterfinals included third-round winner Roger Federer and top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who advanced after opponent Juan Martin del Potro withdrew with a hip injury.
Djokovic is tied for third with Ivan Lendl for the best season start since 1980. John McEnroe won 42 straight to begin the 1984 season, and Bjorn Borg who won 33 consecutive matches at the beginning of the 1980 season.
On the women’s side, Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated the 2011 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Mattek-Sands will next face Li Na after Na’s win over Italian Roberta Vinci, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Also advancing was the number four seed, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who defeated Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-0, 6-3 to also reach the quarterfinals.
