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  • Djokovic enters third round at Madrid Open

    Novak Djokovic eased past Oscar Hernandez 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Madrid Open. 
    Novak Djokovic






    Novak Djokovic returns a ball at the ATP Madrid Masters. (AFP Photo)











    The third-seeded Serb fell awkwardly on his right knee on the clay surface at Madrid's new ``Magic Box'' tennis center early in the second set, but was rarely troubled by his Spanish opponent before closing out the match in 1 hour, 38 minutes. 

    Fourth-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles crashed out with a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Stephen Huss and Ross Hutchins. On Tuesday, Roger Federer began his latest bid for a first title of the year with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Robin Soderling.

    Djokovic never faced a break point in the match, while breaking Hernandez once in the first set and twice in the second. 

    Juan Martin del Potro of Spain also advanced to the third round when Tomas Berdych was forced to retire with a leg injury. 

    The Czech player, who won his first title of the year at the BMW Open in Munich on Sunday, retired while trailing 6-2, 4-1. 

    The results: Men: Second round: Rafael Nadal bt Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1; Novak Djokovic bt Oscar Hernandez 6-3, 6-3; Juan-Martin del Potro bt Tomas Berdych 6-2, 4-1 retired; Gilles Simon bt Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2; Stanislas Wawrinka bt Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-5; Roger Federer bt Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-5; Andy Murray bt Simone Bolelli 7-6(9), 6-4; Ivan Ljubicic bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-5. Doubles: Stephen Huss & Ross Hutchins bt Mahesh Bhupathi & Mark Knowles 6-4, 7-5.

    Women: Third round: Vera Dushevina bt Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Second round: Victoria Azarenka bt Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-1; Alisa Kleybanova bt Venus Williams 6-3, 3-6, 7-5; Amelie Mauresmo bt Jie Zheng 6-2, 7-5. — Agencies

    In later matches, top-seeded Rafael Nadal was due to meet Austria's Jurgen Melzer, while women's No. 1 Dinara Safina was set to play Li Na of China.

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