bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Novak Djokovic battled back from 5-1 down against world number 63 Jan-Lennard Struff to claim his first victory of the season at the Qatar Open on Monday.
The world number two lost his opening two service games and struggled with the German’s big serves in the early exchanges.
But the Serb rallied in determined fashion to eventually take the first round match 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.
“It wasn’t a great start, I was 1-5 down, it didn’t look very good,” Djokovic said after winning in just under 90 minutes.
He attributed his slow start to early season rustiness rather than any long-term concerns over his form, following a relatively poor second half of the season in 2016.

“I guess I had to get more time to get the engine started. It’s the first match of the year, you never know how you’re going to start,” he added.
“I mean, I was a bit flat on my feet, and Struff, credit to him for playing aggressive, hitting the serves well, and ripping [the] ball from the baseline.
Imperious Andy Murray ensures he finishes season as world No.1 – then warns Djokovic he plans to stay there for a long, long time
“But I stayed composed because I knew, I believed that I could find the rhythm, start reading his serve better, and that’s what happened.”
Djokovic, who is the defending champion in Doha, hit 17 winners but also 20 unforced errors, while his opponent thundered down nine aces.

The 12-time grand slam winner is looking to reclaim his number one ranking from Andy Murray, who is also in Doha, and is the tournament’s number one seed.
If matches go to form the rivals will meet in a mouthwatering final on January 7.
Andy Murray marks rise to the top with ATP Tour Finals romp against Marin Cilic
Before the tournament, Murray said Djokovic would be his main rival this season, but the Serb said 2017 would be about more than two players.
“We have the return of [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer that we cannot count out in any circumstances because of their history and results and the quality of players that they are,” he said.

.@DjokerNole recovers from a slow start to overcome #Struff in his 2017 season opener in Doha. Read: https://t.co/SPjeD0WuyM pic.twitter.com/arRhOeAJSg
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) January 2, 2017

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Also on Monday there were victories for Dustin Brown, who edged past Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4.
And number four seed, Belgium’s David Goffin, who beat Murray in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week, defeated Robin Hasse of the Netherlands 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Djokovic and Becker split after three seasons and six major tennis titles
Murray’s begins his attempt to win the Qatar Open, an event he last won in 2009, with a first round match against France’s Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday.
The newly knighted Scotsman though was in action in the doubles on Monday, but he and partner Mariusz Fyrstenberg lost in straight sets to David Marrero and Nenad Zimonjic.

Novak Djokovic survives Jan-Lennard Struff scare in Qatar Open season opener

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany during the Qatar Open. Photo: AFP

Tennis - Qatar Open - Men's Singles - Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany v Novak Djokovic of Serbia - Doha, Qatar - 2/1/2017 - Djokovic serves. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany serves the ball to Serbia's Novak Djokovic, during the ATP Qatar Open tennis competition in Doha on January 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR

Andy Murray closes in on Novak Djokovic’s top ranking after claiming maiden China Open title

Britain's Andy Murray points to his corner after winning the China Open title. Photo: Reuters

epa05578160 Andy Murray (R) of Britain signs autographs after defeating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in their men's singles final of the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 09 October 2016. EPA/WU HONG

epa05578162 Andy Murray (R) of Britain poses with the championship trophy after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (L) of Bulgaria in their men's singles final of the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 09 October 2016. EPA/WU HONG

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates with the trophy as he wins against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in their men's singles final match of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 9, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

$100-million-dollar man: Novak Djokovic on verge of incredible career winnings breakthrough

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is on the verge of passing the $100 million mark in career winnings. Photo: AP

epa05308406 Serbian Novak Djokovic celebrates his second place after his mens final match for the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 15 May 2015. Murray won 6-3 and 6-3. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI

Tennis - Madrid Open - Men's Finals - Novak Djokovic of Serbia v Andy Murray of Britain - Madrid, Spain - 8/5/16 Djokovic holds up the trophy. REUTERS/Paul Hanna

Andy Murray reunites with Ivan  Lendl hoping to solve Novak Djokovic problem

Ivan Lendl helped Andy Murray land both his grand slam titles. Photo: AFP

Former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo arrives for a ceremony to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame before the women's final match at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their final at the French Open in Paris on June 5, 2016. Djokovic won 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to claim his first title at Roland Garros. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the winner's trophy during the victory ceremony for the French Open in Paris on June 5, 2016. Djokovic defeated Britain's Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to claim his first title at Roland Garros and become the eighth man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Closing in: Andy Murray one win away from world No.1 ranking as Novak Djokovic crashes out in Paris

Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after winning his quarter-final tennis match against Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor tournament in Paris on November 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Tennis - Paris Masters tennis tournament men's singles quarterfinals - Novak Djokovic of Serbia v Marin Cilic of Croatia - Paris, France - 4/11/2016 - Djokovic reacts at the end of the match. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Britain's Andy Murray returns the ball to Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych during their quarter-final tennis match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor tournament in Paris on November 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

Sport

Tennis

World number fights back from 5-1 down to eventually beat big-hitting German 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in Doha on Monday
