Novak Djokovic survives scare against Nicolas Almagro, Rafael Nadal battles through
ByReuters
Updated 10/05/2017 at 18:40 GMT
Novak Djokovic was made to sweat by Nicolas Almagro in the first match of his Madrid Open defence but eventually overcame the Spaniard 6-1 4-6, 7-5 on Wednesday to reach the third round.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand in his match against Nicolas Almagro of Spain during day five of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis at La Caja Magica on May 10, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
Almagro, ranked 76, broke Djokovic in the opening game but the world number two came back with a vengeance to win six consecutive games, finishing the last with a tidy drop shot.
The Spaniard, who has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in a grand slam, grew in confidence in the second set, however, with the backing of the home support on the Manolo Santana court and saved two break points before forcing a decider.
An upset looked on the cards when Almagro broke Djokovic at the first attempt in the third set and marched into a 3-0 lead but the Serb drew on his experience to battle back, breaking the 31-year-old twice before serving out for the match.
The Serbian, who recently split from his long-term coach Marian Vajda, is on a quest to regain his best form again ahead of the French Open.
Later on Rafael Nadal battled through against Fabio Fognini 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4.
Four-times winner Nadal twice bounced back to win the first set in a thrilling tiebreak.
Fognini played aggressively, however, and forced Nadal on to the defensive as he took the match into a deciding set.
After failing to take advantage of one match point, Nadal emerged victorious thanks to two powerful forehands and the 30-year-old world number five next faces Australian Nick Kyrgios.
In the third round of the women's singles Eugenie Bouchard plays Angelique Kerber of Germany, having seen off Maria Sharapova on Monday in a thriller.
MADRID OPEN RESULTS 10.05.17
Novak Djokovic (SER) beat Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5
Milos Raonic (CAN) beat Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-4, 6-4
Kei Nishikori (JAP) beat Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 1-6, 6-0, 6-4
David Ferrer (ESP) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) (W/0)
Tomas Berdych (CZE) beat Robin Haase (NED) 7-6(5), 6-3
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) beat Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-3, 6-3
Rafael Nadal (ESP) beat Fabio Fognini (ITA) 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) beat Gilles Simon (FRA)
Pablo Cuevas (URU) beat Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
TO PLAY
Stan Wawrinka (SWI) v Benoit Paire (FRA)
Borna Coric (CRO) v Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA)
Alexander Zverev (GER) v Marin Cilic (CRO)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement