Novak Djokovic lost the first four games and recovered from a 2-5 deficit in the first set on Monday in his 2017 ATP World Tour season opener at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The World No. 2 and defending champion regained his poise to record his 14th straight victory against a German opponent, 7-6(1), 6-3 against Jan-Lennard Struff in one hour and 87 minutes.
Djokovic, who has an 8-1 record at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament, lost just six of his first service points and will next face Florian Mayer or Horacio Zeballos in the second round. Last year, the Serbian became the sixth player who has ranked No. 1 in his career to win the Doha title, joining former coach Boris Becker - who won the inaugural title in 1993. Other No. 1s to lift the trophy have been Stefan Edberg (1994-95), Jim Courier (1997), Marcelo Rios (2001), Roger Federer (2005-06, ’11).
Elsewhere, Dustin Brown knocked out Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 6-7(2), 6-4 and Jiri Vesely hit 13 aces to overcome wild card Anil Yuksel 6-2, 6-3.
World No. 1 Andy Murray, who is also competing at the 25th edition of the tournament, opened his season with Mariusz Fyrstenberg. But David Marrero and Nenad Zimonjic got the better of the pair 6-2, 6-4 in 59 minutes. Murray will play his first singles match of 2017 against Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday.