Novak Djokovic loses a set however beats Aleksandar Vukic in Indian Wells

World no. 1 and five-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic received his first match within the desert after 5 years! Novak took down world no. 69 Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in two hours and ten minutes, incomes his four-hundredth Masters 1000 win and becoming a member of Rafael Nadal on the unique listing.

Djokovic performed effectively behind the primary serve and saved 4 out of six break factors. He saved the stress on Vukic with a rock-solid show on the second-serve return, seizing 5 out of 13 break possibilities and sealing the deal in three units.

Novak hit 24 winners and 22 unforced errors, beating Aleksandar within the shortest and extra superior exchanges.

Novak served at 78% within the opening set and managed all the pieces on serve and return.

The Serb dropped six factors behind the preliminary shot, defending the one break likelihood supplied to his rival and turning virtually half of the return factors into two breaks, wrapping up the opener in 34 minutes. Djokovic grabbed a artful level on the web at 0-30 within the first recreation of the encounter and missed a break level after Vukic’s high-quality assault.

Novak earned the second break likelihood and seized it after Aleksandar’s horrible forehand for 1-0 and an early break. The Serb cemented the lead with a backhand down the road winner in recreation two and created one other break alternative within the subsequent one after the Aussie’s wayward backhand.

Vukic denied it with a service winner on the second serve and held, lowering the deficit to 2-1. Aleksandar drew Novak’s mistake within the fourth recreation with a deep return, making a break likelihood. World no. 1 denied it with a booming serve and held with one other to open a 3-1 hole.

Vukic served effectively in recreation 5, and Djokovic adopted that within the subsequent one, forging a 4-2 benefit with a maintain at love due to a service winner. Aleksandar netted a backhand within the seventh recreation, providing Novak a break level.

The Aussie positioned a forehand lengthy, dropping serve for the second time and falling 5-2 behind. World no. 1 served for the set in recreation eight and produced set level with a booming serve down the T line.

Novak Djokovic ousted Aleksandar Vukic in Indian Wells.

Novak seized the primary with an ace, wrapping up the opener 6-2 and hoping for extra in set quantity two.

Aleksandar stayed aggressive within the second set regardless of taking solely 25% of the factors behind the second serve. The Aussie solid a 3-0 benefit and grabbed one other break within the closing phases with a return winner to introduce a decider and prolong his possibilities towards his idol.

Aleksandar clinched the primary recreation with a robust serve and pushed robust on the return within the subsequent one, creating two break factors with a forehand down the road winner. Novak denied them and reached deuce earlier than lacking a backhand on the third, dropping serve and falling 2-0 behind.

Vukic missed a backhand within the third recreation, providing Djokovic three break possibilities. The Aussie stayed calm and saved them, forcing the Serb’s mistake and holding for a 3-0 benefit. Novak diminished the deficit with a forehand crosscourt winner within the fourth recreation and bounced again from 40-15 down within the subsequent one.

Djokovic created a break likelihood and transformed it with a volley winner, lowering the deficit to 3-2 and returning to the constructive facet. The Serb held at 15 within the sixth recreation, taking three straight video games and locking the outcome at 3-3.

Vukic landed two winners at 30-30 within the seventh recreation, ending his downfall and remaining aggressive. Djokovic responded with a maintain at love in recreation eight, closing it with a robust serve and sending the stress to the opposite facet.

Novak missed a routine backhand at 30-30 within the ninth recreation after an prolonged rally, and Aleksandar closed the sport with a service winner for 5-4.

Djokovic served to remain within the set in recreation ten and secured it with a forehand down the road winner, locking the outcome at 5-5. Vukic notched his third straight good maintain within the eleventh recreation, firing a service winner and protecting the stress on Djokovic.

World no. 1 cracked below it within the twelfth recreation, discovering himself 30-0 down after the Aussie’s forehand down the road winner. Novak netted a forehand and supplied Aleksandar two set factors. Djokovic denied the primary with a dependable forehand assault earlier than Vukic transformed the second with a forehand return winner, taking the set 7-5 and introducing a decider after an hour and a half.

World no. 69 served first within the remaining set and held at 30 after Novak’s wild forehand. A five-time champion responded with a maintain at love in recreation two after a service winner, leveling the rating at 1-1. Djokovic fired a forehand down the road return winner within the third recreation, making a break likelihood.

Aleksandar saved it with a forehand down the road winner earlier than experiencing the second. The Aussie erased it with a forehand winner after a robust serve and the Serb’s brief return. Vukic wrapped up the sport with an ace, surviving and avoiding an early setback.

Djokovic leveled the rating at 2-2 with a maintain at 15 after a forehand error from his rival, hoping to create extra return possibilities.

Aleksandar performed a few improper strokes within the fifth recreation and supplied Novak two break possibilities.

World no. 1 compelled a backhand error from his opponent, incomes a break and opening a 3-2 hole. Djokovic confirmed the break with a maintain at 30 in recreation six, shifting nearer to the end line. Vukic served effectively within the seventh recreation, bringing it house at 15 with a service winner and remaining inside one break deficit.

Novak prolonged the result in 5-3 with a high-quality volley assault, forcing Aleksandar to serve to remain within the match. Djokovic made one other push on the return in recreation 9, incomes two match factors with a forehand winner. He seized the second, delivering one other break and shifting into the third spherical.