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By Chris Oddo | Saturday, March 28, 2015

 
Novak Djokovic, Miami 2015

Novak Djokovic was pushed to a decider before rallying to finish off Martin Klizan in three.

Photo Source: Matthew Stockman/Getty

Novak Djokovic survived a strong push from Martin Klizan of Slovakia in the middle set to advance, 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 on Saturday night in Miami.

The four-time Miami champion, enjoying his 139th week as the ATP’s No. 1 player, recovered from dropping the second set by routing Klizan down the stretch to set up a third-round encounter with Belgium’s Steve Darcis.

“Credit to Martin for battling and making me playing extra shot,” Djokovic said after the match. “It was pretty different game in the second set than it was in the first.”

Djokovic would win only 20 of 40 service points in the second set, and he surrendered three break points on four opportunities against the hard-hitting southpaw, but despite his troubles he served for the set at 5-3, then later, after dropping three games and falling behind 6-5, he had opportunities to break and force a tiebreaker.

“I was frustrated, no doubt about that,” Djokovic said. “And every athlete goes through ups and downs and various emotions during the matches like this, and it's important always to regroup and maintain that self belief and composure, because that's something that always gives you a W, which you are looking for.”

Klizan saved the final break point, which was the 10th he faced in the set, with a picture-perfect drop shot that Djokovic could not catch up to.

But in the third set the world No. 41 had very little left to offer. After falling behind 3-0 he managed a hold, but did not take another game after that.

Djokovic improved to 20-2 on the season, and 31-5 lifetime at the Miami Open, with the victory.

In other late action on Saturday, Thomaz Bellucci won a heated battle with Pablo Cuevas, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, to set up a third-round match with Alexandr Dolgopolov, who defeated Tommy Robredo, 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-5.


 

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