ATP: Novak Djokovic wins first-round crash against Kei Nishikori

Novak Djokovic has reached the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid. Against Kei Nishikori from Japan, the Serb won 7:5, 6:4. The Madrid winner from 2011 and 2016 won the last eleven matches against Nishikori.

“It could have gone both ways, the first set was really tight,” said Djokovic. “I need a little more consistency in some phases of my matches, but that will certainly come with time.”

With 26 winners over long baseline duels, Djokovic, who will play Daniil Medvedev against Kyle Demund on Wednesday, prevailed.

The first set was error-prone, both players had problems finding their rhythm. After a 3-2 break from Nishikori, Djokovic promptly responded with a 3-3 equaliser, taking the Japanese back to 7-5 with a forehand return.

In the second round, Djokovic fended off a break point in the first game and used his chance to win the match in a real marathon game.