An out of sorts world No.2 Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten record at the China Open in Beijing on Tuesday, requiring three sets to defeat qualifier Michael Berrer of Germany.
The Serbian, playing his first match since losing to Andy Murray in the US Open final last month, progressed to the second round with a 6-1 6-7 (3/7) 6-2 victory, however it was a performance that was far from impressive.
Djokovic, 25, took the first set with ease but lost the second on a tie break after hitting several unforced errors against the left-hander, ranked 123rd in the ATP standings, before improving his groundstrokes for the third.
The No.1 seed has won China’s Open on the two occasions he has entered, in 2009 and 2010, but missed last year because of injury.
Elsewhere, third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France battled to a three-set victory over Uzbekistan’s unseeded Denis Istomin.
The world No.7 lost the first set but came back to win 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7/3).
Tsonga’s countryman Julien Benneteau, who lost in the final of the Malaysian Open just two days ago, was forced to retire shortly into the second set, handing Italy’s Andreas Seppi the easiest of routes to the second round.
In the women’s event, Chinese star Li Na brushed aside on-form Nadia Petrova of Russia in straight sets to progress to the last 16.
Asia’s top women’s player, who needs a strong showing this week to qualify for the WTA Championships in Istanbul later this month, won the match convincingly at a packed National Tennis Stadium 6-1 6-2.
It was the 2011 French Open champion’s first win against Petrova, who triumphed at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Saturday, in seven attempts.
“That’s the charm in playing tennis. Every day you can challenge yourself,” Li said.
“You are defeated consecutively, but it doesn’t mean you are defeated by her all the time. This is sport. You never know what’s going to happen.
“I’m very much glad to see that I’m still making progress in this match,” she added.
Marion Bartoli, the China Open’s ninth seed, also progressed, defeating Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-4, 6-3 while Spain’s Lourdes Dominguez Lino knocked out Britain’s Laura Robson 7-5, 6-3.
Fifth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany beat Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino of Spain 6-2, 6-0, while defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska also went through, defeating China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3.
