Djokovic navigated fluctuations in his own physical level and held off the increasingly confident teenager to prevail, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 24-time- major winner called ATP physio Clay Sniteman to court after the second set to re-apply tape to a bloodied big toe on his right foot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier in the match he appeared to be troubled by a hip issue and also pulled his racquet behind his head on several occasions, perhaps in an attempt to suck in more oxygen, ATP reports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Djokovic, looking for his first major title since winning his fourth US Open in 2023, will now have two days' rest before facing American qualifier Zachary Svajda on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Trailing 0-40 in the sixth game, Djokovic escaped with a hold and was later forced to save a set point in the 10th game. He was struggling, but his famed fighting spirit and resilience were intact, helping him snare the ensuing tiebreak and an invaluable two-set lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Set two saw Djokovic\u2019s unforced error count spike five times higher than set one, but after a medical timeout to treat a blister on his toe, he was flying again in the third. From an immediate break down, the seventh seed reeled off five straight games to take a stranglehold over the match, which he closed out in two hours, 25 minutes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Trailing 0-40 in the sixth game, Djokovic escaped with a hold and was later forced to save a set point in the 10th game. He was struggling, but his famed fighting spirit and resilience were intact, helping him snare the ensuing tiebreak and an invaluable two-set lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He\u2019s 75-0 at the opening-round stage since that loss at Melbourne Park to Paul Goldstein as a teenager, and now, at age 38, this latest win puts him a step closer to a fourth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n