Djokovic advances after opponent withdraws injured

ROTTERDAM, (Reuters) – Top seed Novak Djokovic  advanced into the second round of the World Indoor Tournament yesterday when his Ukrainian opponent Sergiy Stakhovsky withdrew  with knee problems while trailing 6-2 4-1.

Serbia’s Djokovic, making his first appearance since he  suffered indigestion in his quarter-final loss at the Australian  Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, wrapped up the first set in 32  minutes with two service breaks.

An early double break in the second set followed and the  world number two now has a second round meeting with Swiss Marco  Chiudinelli, who clinched a third set tie-break to beat 2008  champion Michael Llodra of France 6-1 6-7 7-6.

“You always wish for an easy first round match because it is  a bit tricky as you have to get used to the surface, light and  surroundings,” Djokovic said.

Frenchmen Julien Benneteau also reached the next round  easily with a 6-3 6-3 victory over seventh-seeded Croatian Ivan  Ljubicic, a finalist here in 2005 and 2007.