Cincinnati Masters: Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round at the Cincinnati Masters 2023. The World No.2 won the first set 6-4 against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before the Spaniard pulled out of the contest due to a lower back injury.
Also Read: Cincinnati Masters 2023: Schedule, Top seeds, Draw, LIVE Streaming, Check All you need to know
Djokovic returns to Cincinnati Masters after 2019
In his first match in Cincinnati since 2019, and his first tour-level appearance since the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic won a 6-4 opening set against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before the Spaniard retired in the first game of the second set.
Djokovic, who won the Western & Southern Open in 2018 and in 2020 (when it was held in New York), will next meet Gael Monfils on Thursday.
Davidovich Fokina left the court for a medical timeout late in the first set to deal with a back problem, then retired early in the second due to the injury with 46 minutes on the match clock.
“I hope Alejandro bounces back to the court quickly, recovers from his lower back injury, that’s what he told me at the net,” Djokovic said post-match.
“It’s never the way you like to win, I think for the crowd as well. Coming in, they expect to see a battle, they expect to see a match. Of course it’s great for me to be able to come back to the court and win a match. Obviously mixed emotions with the way it finished. Nevertheless, I’m hoping that I can build my form day to day and progress through the tournament with raising the level.”
After a scrappy start in which Djokovic saved two early break points, the Serbian began to find his footing against the Toronto semi-finalist to take charge of the baseline rallies. Davidovich Fokina left the court for treatment at 3-4, before the final three games of the set all went against serve. The Serbian will next bid to extend his perfect 18-0 tour-level record against Monfils in the Round of 16.
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