TIPSAREVIC RETURNS WITH DJOKOVIC, WHO KICKS OFF SINGLES CAMPAIGN ON SATURDAY BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 28th March 2015

TIPSAREVIC RETURNS WITH DJOKOVIC, WHO KICKS OFF SINGLES CAMPAIGN ON SATURDAY BY RICKY DIMON |

It’s Tipsy time.

Janko Tipsarevic returned to tennis for the first time since the fall of 2013 when he took the court on Friday afternoon at the Miami Open. Tipsarevic decided that he was not yet ready for singles in South Beach, but what better way to ease back into action than with a doubles match partnering fellow Serb Novak Djokovic?

Although Djokovic and Tipsarevic were one and one, they put up a strong fight in a 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 loss to Jurgen Melzer and Robert Lindstedt.

Djokovic could do absolutely nothing wrong throughout the two full sets, but it was Tipsarevic who came up with the shot of the day–a lunging forehand pass at the end of an incredible rally. Roles reversed in the super-tiebreaker, when Tipsarevic played more consistently as Djokovic got tight.

“The opportunity to play with him today was very special for me as a friend, and I cared very much to win this match today,” the world No. 1 commented. “I got very tight in the super-tiebreaker. We lost to two of the great, very good doubles players.

“But we talked after the match, and he appreciated the fact that he can actually play; just feel that match play, have that sensation of how it feels and what it takes to be on the court. He’s 31 this year, but he’s eager to play. He’s motivated. He has been practicing for a couple of weeks (at) 100 percent. Hopefully this doubles match today can help him.”

It may also help Djokovic, who got some match practice in ahead of his first singles effort of the tournament on Saturday night against Martin Klizan.

The two players have never faced each other, but Klizan is no stranger to the big stage. He is 1-2 lifetime against Rafael Nadal, whom he has played at both the French Open and Wimbledon. He also pushed Tomas Berdych to five sets in Arthur Ashe Stadium at last summer’s U.S. Open.

But this will be a tough test for the 41st-ranked Slovak, who took care of Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday. Djokovic is a four-time champion in Miami and he is coming off a title in Indian Wells.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Janko Tipsarevic, Miami Open tennis, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 28, 2015 at 8:24 am

-@TipsarevicJanko RETURNS WITH @DjokerNole, WHO KICKS OFF SINGLES CAMPAIGN ON SATURDAY BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/0ijuNDvITy #MiamiOpen #atp