Novak Djokovic improved his perfect record at the China Open to 25-0 by beating Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday in the first round.
The top-seeded Djokovic’s winning streak started in 2009, when he won the first of his five titles at the tournament. He has dropped only three sets out of 51 in his five appearances. He didn’t play in 2011.
Besides singles, Djokovic is also teaming with younger brother Djordje in doubles for the first time at an ATP Tour event.
Rafael Nadal also advanced to the second round, beating Chinese wild-card entry Wu Di 6-4, 6-4. Nadal dropped serve four times in the match, including three straight games in the second set.
The third-seeded Nadal is in the uncharacteristic position of needing a strong finish to the season to qualify for the ATP Finals in london next month.
“I think I played little bit too ... far away from the baseline,” Nadal said. “The last three games of the match I was playing better. I hit some good forehands down the line and that’s why I finished well.”
On the women’s side, US Open champion Flavia Pennetta of Italy rallied to advance to the third round with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 win over Teliana Pereira of Brazil.
Also, eighth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark defeated Chinese wild-card entry Wang Qiang 7-5, 6-0, and 10th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-4.
Wawrinka beats Stepanek
TOKYO: A year after a surprising first-round exit at the Japan Open, the top-seeded Swiss won his opening match at this year’s tournament, beating Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday.
“last year I was struggling a little bit to find my best level after the US Open,” said Wawrinka, wearing a “Stan The Man” T-shirt. “This year, I feel quite fresh.”
Also, Wimbledon semifinalist Richard Gasquet, seeded fourth, was eliminated by Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain 6-4, 6-1. Also, Gilles Muller of luxembourg beat fifth-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-2, 6-3 and Benoit Paire of France defeated eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.