Top seed Novak Djokovic looked strong in his first ATP match in 2 1/2 months as he clinched a 6-0, 6-3 win over Spain’s Pablo Andujar on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Tel Aviv Open in Israel .
The Serb has eight aces among 29 winners and made just eight unforced errors in his first Tour match since winning Wimbledon on July 10. Djokovic broke Andujar’s serve four times during the 87-minute game.
Djokovic was unable to play on the recent US hard court circuit and missed the US Open due to his COVID-19 vaccination status. Next, Djokovic meets Canadian lucky loser Vasek Pospisil, who held a 6-3, 6-2 win over Israeli qualifier Edan Leshem.
Among others, Arthur Rinderknech of France had 35 winners and saved a match point in a 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7) win over third-placed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina.
Britain’s qualifier Liam Broady scored a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over 5th-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, and France’s Constant Lestienne defeated Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland 6-4, 6 :2.
Sofia open
Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler ripped 46 winners and committed just eight unforced errors as he recorded a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over second-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain and advanced to the quarterfinals in Bulgaria .
Huesler won 89.2 percent of his first serve points and achieved the stunning victory. Next up is Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, who defeated eighth-placed Germany’s Oscar Otte 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
In other seeded games, Jannik Sinner of Italy won 6-3, 6-4 over Portugal’s Nuno Borges, and fifth-seeded Dane Holger Rune defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-7(1), 6-4, 6- 3.
Korea open
Top seed Casper Ruud of Norway had 18 wins against seven unforced errors while struggling for a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry to reach the quarterfinals in Seoul.
Jarry had a 13-6 advantage on aces and 35 winners against 22 unforced errors. Ruud, who qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals with the win, next meets Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who beat compatriot Taro Daniel 6-2, 6-4.
Second seeded Briton Cameron Norrie scored a 6-2, 6-2 win over Japanese wild card Kaichi Uchida. Next, Norrie meets eighth-seeded Jenson Brooksby, who defeated South Korea’s Soonwoo Kwon 6-3, 6-4.
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