Undefeated Novak Djokovic Set For Belgrade Return

Lawn Tennis, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Undefeated Novak Djokovic Set For Belgrade Return
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 4:31am PST USA

BELGRADE-- Following an injury layoff, second ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to ATP Tour competition Wednesday at the Serbia Open at Belgrade, Serbia.

The 23 year old took hardcourt titles at the Australian Open, Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami to compile a 24-0 ATP Tour record before a knee injury caused him to withdraw from the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters earlier this month.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia | Image: Getty

Djokovic is 0-9 versus the world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain on claycourts.

The Serbian defeated the world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain in the finals at both Indian Wells and Miami.

Djokovic will face a relatively weak ATP Tour field at his first claycourt tournament of the year as Nadal and all other top 15 ranked ATP Tour players with the exception of Djokovic have elected to bypass the event.

Nadal has not lost a match on a claycourt since 2009.

Djokovic could face the 29th ranked big serving American John Isner in the quarterfinals.

The Serbian Open is one of several warm up tournaments for the French Open, which begins May 22nd at Paris.

In his best French Open result to date, Djokovic reached the French Open semifinals in both 2007 and 2008.

Nadal is 9-0 versus Djokovic on a claycourt; last winning in 2009 in the Madrid semifinals 3-6, 7-6(7-5), 7-6(11-9).

Wednesday in the second round, Djokovic will play the winner of today’s first round match between Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hildago and the qualifier Adrian Ungur of Romania.