Djokovic into Masters 3rd round

Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the Madrid Masters on Wednesday after Victor Hanescu retired due to an apparent groin injury while trailing 6-7 (8), 7-6 (8), 3-1.

Hanescu won the first-set tiebreaker on his third set point when Djokovic hit a forehand long.

Hanescu saved a set point in the second set by hitting a powerful forehand to catch the third-ranked Djokovic going the wrong way in the 12th game.

The 6-foot-6 Hanescu trailed 4-1 in the ensuing tiebreaker before evening it at 5-5. But Djokovic won the set with a crisp backhand passing shot.

American qualifier Robby Ginepri upset fifth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 .

Davydenko hit 35 winners to 15 for Ginepri, but committed 53 unforced errors over the final two sets.

The Russian started well against Ginepri by converting one of three break chances to win the first set.

The players traded breaks to make it 4-4 in the second set before Davydenko failed on three break opportunities in the next game. Ginepri then closed out the set.
Both players held serve until the 10th game of the deciding set, Davydenko hitting wide to give the 63rd-ranked Ginepri a double match point that was converted when the Russian double-faulted.

Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced by beating Marcel Granollers of Spain 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

The 58th-ranked Granollers decisively broke the Frenchman’s serve in the sixth game as he hit 14 winners to take the first set.

Tsonga, ranked No. 15, won the second set thanks to his booming forehand and court speed.

Granollers led 5-3 in the third set before Tsonga broke back and held serve to force the tiebreaker.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who will play singles on Thursday, pulled out of doubles play with Carlos Moya on Tuesday because of a slight upper leg injury.

“Every match is important, including doubles, but I’ve got priorities,” said Nadal, who will face Richard Gasquet. “You can’t win everything.”

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