Novak Djokovic returns to winning in Japan after US Open injury

World number one vak Djokovic displayed stey recovery of his left shoulder injury Tuesday by defeating an Australian challenger at Japan Open, his first competition since pulling out of US Open.

Djokovic returns to his top form

experienced Serbian top-seed claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory against 20-year-old Alexei Popyrin, who fought bravely at Ariake Colosseum. Popyrin mixed big serves with delicate drop shots to st courous offensives against 32-year-old Djokovic.

But Djokovic, taking part in a Japanese competition for first time, kept his calm to always stay a step above Aussie, never giving his opponent a breakpoint while breaking once in first set and twice in second set. Djokovic nailed seven aces, against eight by Popyrin, and mand to win points on 84 percent of his successful first serves.

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He finished roughly 90-minute match by winning final five games straight. It was Djokovic's first singles competition since he withdrew from his US Open fourth-round match against Swiss Stan Wawrinka due to a left shoulder injury.

As he prepared to take on singles tournament, Djokovic played and lost a doubles match here on Monday and said his shoulder felt "fine".

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Wawrinka decided t to participate in Tokyo tournament due to injuries.

Djokovic was marking his 271st week as world's number one, claiming title of third-longest weeks in top spot, and passing record of American great Ivan Lendle. Serbian is w chasing Pete Sampras with 286 weeks, and Roger Federer with 310 weeks.

A look at or matches

In rest of Tokyo tournament, Japanese wild card Taro Daniel ranked 127, pulled off an upset victory against second-seeded Borna Coric of Croatia, ranked 14th, with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7/5) win in a grueling match that stretched over two hours and 30 minutes.

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Japanese qualifier Yasutaka Uchiyama defeated French fourth-seed Beit Paire 6-2, 6-2. Reilly Opelka of US defeated his countryman seventh-seed Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4. Frenchman Gilles Simon cruised by Spanish qualifier Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-0.

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