Novak Djokovic eases past Thomaz Bellucci in Montreal Masters

Novak Djokovic plays a backhand in his straight sets win over Thomaz Bellucci

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic started his Montreal Masters campaign with a clinical 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Thomaz Bellucci. This is the Serb’s 250th match win at the Masters level.

It wasn’t all easy for the top seed as Bellucci posed a stern test from the start. Djokovic won 67% points on his serve and converted one out of four break point opportunities to go ahead in the opening set. Bellucci had his chances to level scores, but the Brazilian squandered all his three break point chances to trail by a set.

The second set was much closer with both players unable to capitalize on their break point opportunities as the set went to a tie break. Djokovic edged ahead in the breaker after a couple of mini breaks to clinch the set and the match.

“Match could have gone either way, honestly, especially in the second set,” Djokovic said as reported by the Guardian. “But we both had our chances to break. We got to the tiebreak, which I thought was fair, then it was anybody’s game.

“It’s the first hard-court match for me from Miami earlier this year in March. It takes a little bit of time to get into the rhythm, get into the groove.”

Djokovic will face either Jack Sock or Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16.

Ivo Karlovic caused an upset late Tuesday evening by taking out crowd favorite and eighth seed Milos Raonic 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1). In a battle of the big servers, Karlovic hit 22 aces and won an impressive 81% of his service points. By doing so, he went past 10,000 aces and is second on the list of most aces behind compatriot Goran Ivanisevic (10,183).

Raonic struggled on Karlovic’s serve and did not have a single break point opportunity in the match. He hung in for most of the match saving 10 break points in the process.

In a match that began Monday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Borna Coric 6-4, 6-4. The Frenchman, who is the defending champion will take on Roberto Bautista Agut in the next round.

South African Kevin Anderson went down in straight sets 6-7 (2), 6-7(4) to Czech Lukas Rosol. Andy Murray led 5-4 in the opening set against Tommy Robredo before rain suspended play for the day.

Here are other results of the day:

Grigor Dimitrov beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 7-5.

David Goffin beat Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-2.

John Isner beat Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Nick Kyrgios beat Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.