Rusty Novak Djokovic advances to Toronto ATP Masters

Toronto: Wimbledon champions Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray warmed up their hardcourt games on Wednesday with victories in their opening matches at the Toronto ATP Masters.

 

World No.1 Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer in five sets in last month’s Wimbledon final, needed almost two and three-quarter hours to extend his winning run to 10 matches as he beat Frenchman Gael Monfils, with the top seed reaching the third round after a 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2) victory.

 

Britain’s 2013 Wimbledon winner Murray made light of an absence from the ATP Tour of over a month to defeat promising Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 6-2 in less than an hour. The Serb did have to struggle with the flashy Monfils, who put the Serbian under pressure with a break in the third set for a 3-1 lead.

 

Murray showed that his work was starting to pay off, as he hammered Kyrgios, who upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon. 

Eighth seed Murray, who has not won a title in the 13 months since lifting the Wimbledon trophy, will next face 12th seed Richard Gasquet, a winner over Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

 

Julien Benneteau moved into the third-round as he defeated Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. David Ferrer beat Michael Russell 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Milos Raonic fulfilled home hopes with his defeat of Jack Sock 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4), which took almost two and a half hours. Grigor Dimitrov stopped Donald Young 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.