MADRID: Novak Djokovic stepped up his preparations for the French Open as the top seed beat teenager Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4 in his opening match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday.

The world number one, who lifted the trophy in the Spanish capital five years ago, has not played in Madrid since 2013 when he lost his opening match to Grigor Dimitrov.

The Serb’s success over Croatian youngster Coric was his first clay win of 2016 following a loss in Monte Carlo to Jiri Vesely almost a month ago.

“Second match on the clay-court season for me — the first one didn’t go so well for me,” Djokovic said.

“I had some time to recuperate emotionally and mentally.

“I needed that more than physically because it has been a very successful but very demanding start of the season, first four months. I played a lot of matches.

“I performed very solid in opening round, few things could have been better against a young player that I never played against.”

Djokovic will next face Spanish specialist Roberto Bautista Agut after the 15th seed defeated fellow countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.

Elsewhere, Nick Kyrgios dumped out 2013 finalist Stan Wawrinka, with the Australian seeing off the Swiss 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2) in the second round.

Wawrinka, the fourth seed, managed 11 aces but was unable to break the Kyrgios serve while losing his own four times.

Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori was helped by a collapse from Fabio Fognini as the Italian served for victory — Asia’s top player completed a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 fightback win.

Czech eighth seed Tomas Berdych showed fitness after a stomach virus, advancing over Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-3, while world number nine David Ferrer beat Denis Kudla 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

French 16th seed Gilles Simon will line up against Andy Murray in the next round on Wednesday after a defeat of Estoril finalist Pablo Carreno Busta 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

AZARENKA PULLS OUT

The women’s Madrid Open was hit by a high-level injury defection as fourth seed and two-time finalist Victoria Azarenka quit before her match due to lower back pain.

The premature exit handed a place in the quarter-finals to qualifier Louisa Chirico.

“I tweaked my back in my first match, it was cold that day,” said Azarenka.

“In my second match, I was in a lot of discomfort. I thought a day off would help, but today during a hit it came back again.

“I just don’t feel I’m able to compete today.” Azarenka was unsure if she would be able to play Rome, which begins on Monday.

Results (x denotes seeding):

Men’s:

Second round: Jo-Wildried Tsonga (FRA) bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4; Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 6-2, 6-4; Roberto Bautista (ESP x15) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5; Tomas Berdych (CZE x8) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-3, 6-3; Nick Kyrgios (AUS) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x4) 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2); Kei Nishikori (JPN x6) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5; Sam Querrey (USA) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA) 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4; Jack Sock (USA) bt Juan Martin del Porto (ARG) 6-4, 7-6 (7/2); Joco Sousa (POR) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3, 6-3; Gilles Simon (FRA x16) bt Pablo Carreqo-Busta (ESP) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; David Ferrer (ESP x9) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Pablo Cuevas (URU) bt Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)

Women’s:

Third round: Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; Louisa Chirico (USA) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x4)- walkover; Daria Gavrilova (AUS) bt Petra Kvitova (CZE x5) 6-3, 6-4; Irina Begu (ROM) bt Christina McHale (USA) 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4; Simona Halep (ROM x6) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI x10) 6-2, 6-3; Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-4, 7-6 (11/9); Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Carla Suarez (ESP x8) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; Patricia Tig (ROM) bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-3, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2016