By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, May 4, 2016
A commanding Novak Djokovic beat Borna Coric, 6-2, 6-4, to score his first clay-court win of the season and reach the Madrid Open round of 16.
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Novak Djokovic played with passion in his return to Madrid today.
Taking charge from the outset, Djokovic defeated sometime practice partner and good friend Borna Coric, 6-2, 6-4, for his first Madrid Open win since 2013.
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It was Djokovic's first clay-court win of the season.
The world No. 1 suffered a surprising 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 upset loss to 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely in his Monte-Carlo opener on April 3rd. Vesely snapped Djokovic's 14-match winning streak and bounced the top seed from his hometown tournament.
"I was really looking forward to step on the court and compete because I haven't played a competitive match on clay courts for three weeks," Djokovic said. "The one that I played in Monaco wasn't really a fun time on the court, so I needed some match play. I thought I started off well. Held my composure all the way through mentally.
"Coric is a player that fights a lot and puts a lot of balls back in play, but also has a strong first serve. So I needed to come out with a good intensity and focus, which I did. That's what I'm going to take as a positive out of today."
Playing his first Madrid match since losing to Grigor Dimitrov in his Caja Mágica opener three years ago, Djokovic displayed the quick feet and sharp strokes of a man eager to return to his winning ways.
Hitting harder and deeper and playing sharper angles, Djokovic earned triple break point in the fourth game. He needed just one break point, cracking Coric's serve for 3-1.
The 2011 Madrid champion served 71 percent and won 13 of 15 first-serve points plowing through the opening set comfortably.
Unlike his last clay-court match when Djokovic overplayed the drop shot at times and slapped shots into the net, he produced heavy crosscourt combinations to dictate rallies rolling through the first set today.
Credit Coric for playing a little bit closer to the line and hitting his forehand bigger in the second set. Djokovic, who has served as the Croatian's mentor, sees some of himself in Coric.
"We know each other well. We practice many times," Djokovic said. "I do see myself in him a little bit. We play similar styles of the game. He's a great fighter. For his age, quite mature and mentally tough.(I) try to help him out whenever I can and mentor him a little bit with some advices. We have a very nice relationship. Today was the first official match we played against each other, so I was happy with my performance. It was a fun match to be part of."
Still, Djokovic dragged the 19-year-old Croatian around the court with some sharp angles on key points.
In seventh game, Djokovic double faulted twice in a row to face break point, but quickly erased it. Despite serving just 39 percent in the second set, Djokovic permitted just six points on serve in the set powering to a 78-minute victory.
"Altitude should naturally help the serve. But, again, I thought I was serving quite well in the practice sessions," Djokovic said. "Today in the first set went well; second, not so much. Again, this is match play. When you get on the court you go through these moments of ups and downs. It's hard to have days when everything is working in your shot selection.
"So today the serve, first serve percentage could have been higher and should be higher for the upcoming matches. And I'll work on it."
A spirited Djokovic stopped to oblige some photo requests on his way back to the locker room.
Playing for his 29th career Masters title, Djokovic carries a 29-2 record into his round of 16 encounter with Roberto Bautista Agut.
"Hopefully I can keep going tomorrow as well against Bautista, that is very solid," Djokovic said. "Plays pretty flat. Not really characteristic for Spanish style of tennis that involves a lot of rotation and spin on the shots. Bautista, as I said, runs around; always makes the opponent play an extra shot. He's very calm on the court, very composed. We played each other few times. I think last time was in US Open. Close match."
In an all-Spanish clash, 2014 Madrid semifinalist Bautista Agut outlasted Feliciano Lopez, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, in two hours, 27 minutes.
Djokovic is 3-0 lifetime against Bautista Agut, including a four-set win in the 2015 US Open round of 16.
"(Facing) Djokovic it's going to be a tough match," Bautista Agut said. "I'll try to control the game, play freely. You know, I'm going to play Djokovic in the third round. I have to face that. It's better than if you have to play against the first seeded player, but that's the way it is."