Djokovic survives scare in Doha

DOHA - Novak Djokovic battled back from 5-1 down against the world No. 63 Jan-Lennard Struff to claim his first victory of the season at the Qatar Open in Doha Monday. The world No. 2 lost his opening two service games to the German before rallying in determined fashion to eventually take the first-round match 7-6 (7-1), 6-2. “It wasn’t a great start, I was 1-5 down, it didn’t look very good,” Djokovic said after winning in just under 90 minutes. “It took me a little time to start reading his serve and after that it was a good performance.” In total, his big-serving opponent thundered down nine aces. The Serb Djokovic, who is the defending champion in Doha, hit 17 winners but also 20 unforced errors. The 12-time Grand Slam winner is looking to reclaim his No. 1 ranking after suffering a relatively poor second half of the season in 2016. The man who replaced Djokovic as the No. 1, Andy Murray, is also in Doha and is the tournament’s No. 1 seed. If matches go to form the rivals will meet in a mouthwatering final on Jan. 7. Murray’s first-round match is against France’s Jeremy Chardy Tuesday. The newly knighted Scotsman was in action in the doubles Monday, but he and partner Mariusz Fyrstenberg lost in straight sets to David Marrero and Nenad Zimonjic. Dustin Brown edged past Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis in three sets in the first round of the singles, 6-1, 6-7 (7-2), 6-4.