Doubting Novak Djokovic struggled to close out his opening win in searing heat at the Toronto Masters yesterday while title holder Andy Murray played it cool as he rallied for a victory over Xavier Malisse.
Doubting Novak Djokovic struggled to close out his opening win in searing heat at the Toronto Masters yesterday while title holder Andy Murray played it cool as he rallied for a victory over Xavier Malisse.
Frustrated second seed Djokovic required multiple match points to down Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-5, 7-5. Murray broke Malisse twice to end the first set and easily powered through to a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
Murray slowly seized control, firing seven aces and breaking his 30-year-old opponent.
For Djokovic, however, it was a struggle to the end. The Serb admitted that his longstanding discomfort in hot weather again came into play.
"It was a big struggle, I was not feeling the best, but it is something I overcame.
"I was lucky to come back when I needed to," said the player whose occasional fragility has plagued him for the past few seasons. "When I needed to hit winners, I went for it instead of waiting for him to make errors.
That was a positive that came out of this. The heat was at least 30 Celsius and the court absorbs it and makes things even hotter. I was close to the edge today."
Djokovic was playing for the first time since leading his country into the Davis Cup semi-finals last month.
