DOHA: Novak Djokovic battled back from 5-1 down against world number 63 Jan-Lennard Struff to claim his first victory of the season at the Qatar Open on Monday.
The world number two lost his opening two service games and struggled with the German´s big serves in the early exchanges.
But the Serb rallied in determined fashion to eventually take the first-round match 7-6 (7/1), 6-3.
"It wasn´t a great start, I was 1-5 down, it didn´t look very good," Djokovic said after winning in just under 90 minutes.
He attributed his slow start to early-season rustiness rather than any long-term concerns over his form, following a relatively poor second half of the season in 2016.
"I guess I had to get more time to get the engine started. It´s the first match of the year, you never know how you´re going to start.
"I mean, I was a bit flat on my feet, and Struff, credit to him for playing aggressive, hitting the serves well, and ripping (the) ball from the baseline.
"But I stayed composed because I knew, I believed that I could find the rhythm, start reading his serve better, and that´s what happened."
Djokovic, who is the defending champion in Doha, hit 17 winners but also 20 unforced errors.
In total, his opponent thundered down nine aces.
The 12-time Grand Slam winner is looking to reclaim his number one ranking from Andy Murray, who is also in Doha, and is the tournament´s number one seed.
If matches go to form the rivals will meet in a mouthwatering final on January 7.
Also on Monday there were victories for Dustin Brown, who edged past Argentina´s Facundo Bagnis in three sets in the first round of the singles, 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4.
And number four seed, Belgium´s David Goffin, who beat Murray in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week defeated Robin Hasse of the Netherlands, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
Murray´s begins his attempt to win the Qatar Open, an event he last won in 2009, with a first-round match against France´s Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday.
The newly knighted Scotsman though was in action in the doubles on Monday, but he and partner Mariusz Fyrstenberg lost in straight sets to David Marrero and Nenad Zimonjic.
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Djokovic survives scare in Doha season opener was posted in Sports of TheNews International - https://www.thenews.com.pk on January 03, 2017 and was last updated on January 03, 2017. This news story is related to Latest/176290-Djokovic-survives-scare-in-Doha-season-opener/ - breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne. Permanent link to the news story "Djokovic survives scare in Doha season opener" is https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/176290-Djokovic-survives-scare-in-Doha-season-opener.