Novak Djokovic routs Marcos Baghdatis in the second round – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
World number one, Novak Djokovic, stomped over the Cypriot ace, Marcos Baghdatis, in straight sets at the Sony Ericsson Open 2012 on Saturday. He jolted down a 6-4, 6-4 victory over the world number 42 to book a place in the round of 32 at this hard court
event taking place from 19th March to 1st April.
Djokovic showed flawless performance to outgun the Cypriot in their seventh duel at this ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Masters 1000 event. The contestants last battled each other at the Basel ATP event last year and after earning this
glory, Djokovic improved to a 7-0 FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record against Baghdatis.
The first set saw both contenders displaying their best tennis. Djokovic hammered 10 winners and two aces while the Cypriot fired eight winners and three aces. The Serb number one, however, got the breakthrough in the fifth game and pulled out the opener
by winning six games to four. Djokovic took full advantage of the nine unforced errors Baghdatis spilled in the fifth game to earn the limelight.
The 24-year-old kept momentum running into the following set. He cashed in the lone break opportunity in the third game to jump to a 3-1 lead. Djokovic kept remaining serves after blocking both breakpoints he faced and sealed the set with a 6-4 win.
All in all, the top seed displayed awe-inspiring skills in his opening match in the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. He manipulated a lower first serve share of 63 per cent as opposed to Baghdatis’ 68 per cent. However, the Serb brilliantly clinched 32 out
of 40 points on it and finished the match with 62 points.
Djokovic will next duel his 27th seeded compatriot, Viktor Troicki, who bounced over the Spanish qualifier, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, in a three set nail-biter to set-up this date. Troicki lost the opening set after failing to fend off both breakpoints
he came across. However, the 26-year-old made a fitting reply in the proceeding set and pulled out the equaliser with a breadstick. Troicki carried his winning ways in the final set and with the help of a single break of serve, the Serb clinched the decider
with a 6-4 score line.
The former world number one, Roger Federer, will accompany Djokovic in the third round. He capitalised on three out of eight break chances to formulate a 6-2, 7-6(3) success against the American teenager, Ryan Harrison.
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