Novak Djokovic makes it 14-0 for 2020 and admits ‘I have to be satisfied with the performance’

ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic celebration

Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten run in 2020 continues after the world No 1 eased past Malek Jaziri in the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The top seed started the Dubai tournament on the back of title wins at the ATP Cup and the Australian Open, and he continued his great form as he brushes aside the Tunisian 6-1, 6-2 in an hour to win his 14th consecutive match of the year.

Djokovic raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set on the back of two breaks and then broke in games five and seven of the second set.

“It’s a great way to start out the tournament,” he said. “As I’ve said in the press conference prior to the tournament, I miss playing here. I really enjoy it. I enjoy night sessions…

“I think I’ve done everything as well as I imagined it to be for the first match. Of course, there’s things that always can be improved, things that can be better. But I have to be satisfied with the performance.”

Up next is Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat wildcard Mohamed Safwat from Egypt 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Third seed Gael Monfils, who is gunning for a third title on the trot after winning trophies in Montpellier and Rotterdam, was given a tough work out by Marton Fucsovics as he needed two hours to beat the Hungarian 6-4, 7-5.

“It was a battle for me, I didn’t play my best and I’m disappointed about that,” the Frenchman said.

“I was just running to cover the court, I still believed even if I was playing poorly. I’m not so happy about tonight.”

Russian pair Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov also advanced with the sixth-seeded Rublev beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 and the seventh-seeded Khachanov easing to a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory over Mikhail Kukushkin.

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