Djokovic makes a winning start

Murray crashes out of Miami Masters.

MIAMI:

Novak Djokovic won his 19th straight match this season as he crushed Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-0, 6-1 to make a dominant start at the $9 million Miami ATP Masters.

The match lasted a mere 48 minutes, with the second-seeded Serb breaking serve five times.

“I’m having the best couple of months of my career,” said a delighted Djokovic.

It was a day of frustration for Scot Andy Murray as he crashed out to American Alex Bogomolov 6-1, 7-5. Murray was broken seven times, only managing three breaks of Bogomolv.

In other matches, fourth-seed Robin Soderling fought back to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 against Croatian Ivan Dodig to reach the third round. America’s Mardy Fish beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-3 and Serb Viktor Troicki stopped Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-3. India’s Somdev Devvarman was able to overcome Canadian Milos Raonic, 7-6, 7-5.

On the women’s side, second-seed Kim Clijsters thrashed Anastasia Yakimova 6-1, 6-1, while Polish Agnieszka Radwanska beat Czech Barbora Strycova 6-1, 6-0.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2011.