Djokovic in tough opener in Basel – Mardy Fish injured

Written by: Global Chick on 2nd November 2011

Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel

Djokovic in tough opener in Basel – Mardy Fish injured

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Belgium's Xavier Malisse during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 01 November 2011. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

World number one Novak Djokovic had a tough opening match in Basel on Tuesday against 10sballs.com’s Xavier Malisse. The Serb had dressed up in a scary Halloween mask, which he entered the court with. “Every year for the last five years it’s a tradition at Halloween, which is usually during Paris-Bercy, that I go out with some crazy mask. This year it happened a week earlier, so I hope people don’t mind it.”

After two hours and 10 minutes Djokovic won the match in three sets 6-2 4-6 7-5. It looked like the world number one player was going to cruise through his first round after breaking Malisse’s serve twice in the first set. The Belgian came back in the second set and broke Djokovic late to take that set 6-4. In the deciding set the number one seed took a quick 3-0 start. Malisse fought hard not to let the match get out of his hands. The Serb broke one more time to win the set and the match and move into the second round where he faces the winner of qualifiers Tobias Kamke of Germany and Lukasz Kubot of Poland.

Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer had a great win over former world number eight Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in straight sets 6-4 6-3. The World No. 327 ranked Swiss player will face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the second round.

In form American Mardy Fish had to retire yesterday in his first round against his mate James Blake. Fish only stayed on court for one game and then pulled out with a sore hamstring. Blake will clash with Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan next. The Kazak won his first round comfortably on Monday over American wildcard Donald Young.

Stockholm Open finalist Jarkko Nieminen came back from a set down against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. The Finnish number one hit nine aces to beat the Brazilian 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-3. Roger Federer is next for Nieminen.

Hometown boy Stanislas Wawrinka ousted Croatian Ivan Dodig in his opening round 6-4 6-4. The World No. 19 has not won a tournament since Chennai back in January. Wawrinka will more than likely play Andy Murray in the second round in Basel.