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Novak Djokovic makes winning start at his home town tournament in Belgrade

Novak Djokovic is up and running at the Belgrade Open as he looks to head to Roland Garros in winning style; former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu is a doubt for the Grand Slam which starts on Sunday, after suffering an ab tear in Strasbourg

Tuesday 25 May 2021 23:16, UK

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts his men's singles second round match against Mats Moraing of Germany on Day 3 of the ATP 250 Belgrade Open at Novak Tennis Centre on May 25, 2021 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Image: Novak Djokovic made a winning start at the ATP 250 Belgrade Open

World No 1 Novak Djokovic swept past lucky loser Mats Moraing to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Belgrade Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic, who turned 34 on Saturday, was returning to action following defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Rome Masters as he stepped up preparations for Roland Garros.

The Serb was rarely troubled in cruising past off Moraing, the German ranked 253 in the ATP standings, 6-2 7-6 (7-4) and will next face Argentina's Federico Coria.

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He improved to 17-3 on the season and is now level with Guillermo Vilas for fifth-most match wins in the Open Era (951).

"With this win I managed to put my name in another history record book," Djokovic said on the ATP Tour's website. "Obviously being in the same conversation with Vilas and the legends and greats of our game, it makes me really fulfilled and very joyful.

"I was twice a break up in the second set, so I maybe could have finished out the job earlier. But credit to him for fighting, for playing really well, for playing very courageous, very bold tennis."

Ashleigh Barty of Australia Bianca Andreescu of Canada during the finals at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, April 3, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Barty won 6-3, 4-0, as Andreescu retired due to injury. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Image: Bianca Andreescu could be a doubt ahead of the French Open after suffering an ab tear

Top seed Bianca Andreescu battled her way into the quarter-finals of the Strasbourg International then promptly announced her withdrawal from the competition due to injury, putting her hopes of making it to Paris in doubt.

The former US Open champion beat qualifier Maryna Zanevska 6-1 6-4 but opted for a precautionary approach.

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Andreescu said in a post-match interview: "I'm super happy with the win today. I will be pulling out of my next match, because I did feel a little bit of an ab tear and I don't want to push it at all for Roland Garros."

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