Novak Djokovic made to work for his opening win at Cincinnati Masters

Shahida Jacobs
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Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory
Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory

Novak Djokovic didn’t have it all his own way during his first-round victory at the Western & Southern Open.

The Wimbledon champion required nine match points to finally close out the match against Steve Johnson, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and three minutes.

Djokovic only managed to break in the 10th game of the opening set, but it was a different ball game in the second as both players lost their serve twice.

Johnson managed to save seven match points to force the tie-breaker, but the Serb eventually got the deal done at the ninth time of asking.

Djokovic will face Frenchman Adrian Mannarino next.

Stan Wawrinka pulled off an upset as he defeated the 12th seeded Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

The three-time Grand Slam winner, who is still battling to find full fitness and form following knee surgery, will take on Kei Nishikori, who beat Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3.

In the battle of the big serving Americans, Sam Querrey overcame compatriot John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5) while Canadian Denis Shapovalov won the NextGen contest as he beat American Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-5.

Next up for Shapovalov is 14th seed Kyle Edmund in the second round.

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