Rough return for Djoko in Indian Wells re-boot

Novak Djokovic made a reappearance at the Indian Wells Masters on Saturday – five years after his last appearance in the Californian desert – and scraped out a fighting 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win over Aleksandar Vukic.

Victory into the third round for the world No. 1 was a hard-fought affair of more than two hours, with the 69th-rnaked Australian of Balkan heritage putting the top seed on the back foot after losing the opening set.

With the match level at a set each, Djokovic had to battle to stay level before finally breaking his feisty opponent in the last game to go through.

The 36-year-old is back at the Tennis Garden after being banned from entering the US during the COVID pandemic for refusing to take the protective jab.

Djokovic, a five-time champion here, was competing for the first time since last January when he lost an Australian Open semi-final to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

He joins Rafael Nadal as the only men to have won more than 400 matches at the Masters level.

Djokovic, winner of his last 11 Masters matches comprising Cincinnati and Paris in 2023, praised his Aussie opponent for putting up the good fight.

“It was difficult to go through him, he played amazing,” Djokovic said.”He was ripping his forehand and crushing his serve.

“In the third set I managed to crack the code. I stepped it up and finished the match in great style.”