Djokovic Earns Opening Win In Monte-Carlo

(April 18, 2012) After being named to Time's 100 Most Influential List for 2012, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic lived up to his top billing with a complete, if not always comprehensive, straight sets win over Italy's Andreas Seppi in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

Playing in his first clay court match of 2012 and his first since losing in the semifinals of Roland Garros last year, Djokovic came out focused, saving three break points against him while breaking the Italian's serve twice, as he romped through the opening set.

But Djokovic in the second set wasn't as polished as he missed a chance to open up a double break lead while leading 4-2 and then struggled in his last two service games when Seppi had opportunities to force a break point against the Serbian. Djokovic fought off the Italian and hit a final serve that Seppi couldn't handle to give himself a 6-1, 6-4 victory in just under 90 minutes on court.

"I think I served really well when I needed to," Djokovic told ATP.com afterwards. "That's encouraging for the clay because you don't get to rely on your serves as much as maybe on other surfaces, so it's good to have a couple of free points there.

Djokovic, who is aiming to stop Rafael Nadal's run of seven straight titles at Monte-Carlo, will next face No. 16 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov who needed three sets to beat Australia's Bernard Tomic 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.