Djokovic, winner of the 2007 Canadian title, smashed a racket in the second set before finally improving to 4-1 in his career series against Benneteau. He was playing for the first time since leading his country into the Davis Cup semi-finals last month. Djokovic needed over two hours to get the job done against his 33rd-ranked opponent, whom he beat in the Wimbledon first round.
Meanwhile, title-holder Andy Murray played it cool as he rallied for a victory over Xavier Malisse. Murray broke Malisse twice to end the first set and easily powered through to a 7-5, 6-2 victory. Murray slowly seized control, firing seven aces and breaking his 30-year-old opponent.
Nadal ends Wawrinka threat
Top seed Rafael Nadal battled out a marathon tiebreaker to reach the third round, downing Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (14/12), 6-3. The first-set decider tied the record of the longest ever played by the Spaniard, who went the same distance in 2009 but lost 14-12 to Richard Gasquet.
The unseeded Wawrinka had five set point chances of his own which he could not convert. Nadal took the first set on his fourth chance.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2010.
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