London: Top seed Novak Djokovic advanced into the second round of the World Indoor Tournament when his Ukrainian opponent Sergiy Stakhovsky withdrew with knee problems while trailing 6-2, 4-1.
Serbia's Djokovic, making his first appearance since he suffered indigestion in his quarter-final loss at the Australian Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, wrapped up the first set in 32 minutes with two service breaks.
An early double break in the second set followed and the world number two now has a second round meeting with Swiss Marco Chiudinelli, who clinched a third set tie-break to beat 2008 champion Michael Llodra of France 6-1, 6-7, 7-6.
"You always wish for an easy first round match because it is a bit tricky as you have to get used to the surface, light and surroundings," Djokovic said.
Frenchmen Julien Benneteau also reached the next round easily with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over seventh-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, a finalist here in 2005 and 2007.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 09:32