Novak Djokovic battled stomach issues to beat Adrian Mannarino and reach the third round in Cincinnati on Wednesday as women’s title holder Garbine Muguruza crashed out.
Wimbledon champion Djokovic called for the doctor during the second set against Mannarino but put aside his discomfort to progress 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 over the Frenchman before rain halted afternoon play.
“I wasn’t feeling well, I didn’t have a great night and wasn’t feeling that well for the first set and a half,” said Djokovic, who has won every Masters 1000 title except Cincinnati.
“I kind of made it through, and with the help of the doctor and God...I’m just, you know, happy that I managed to overcome the challenge.
“Credit to him playing well the first set, but I wasn’t myself.”
Fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov launched his title defence with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 win over Mischa Zverev, the Bulgarian belting 33 winners in a match that started late.
Cilic wins, Zverev knocked out
Marin Cilic, the 2016 men’s champion, beat Romanian Marius Copil 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, but third-seeded Alexander Zverev was upset 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 by Dutch veteran Robin Haase.
The German remains winless in four appearances at the pre-US Open tournament. His early exit comes a week after he lost in the Toronto quarter-finals to fellow youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson beat Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 while Canadian Milos Raonic advanced over Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 7-5.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka continued his return after knee surgery a year ago, beating Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4.
Nick Kyrgios shook off a dismal second set to beat Croatian Borna Coric 7-6 (7/1), 0-6, 6-3.
The Australian, who petulantly smacked a ball into the stands as he unravelled in the second set, pulled himself together to set up a meeting with either South Korean Chung Hyeon or Argentinals Juan Martin del Potro, whose scheduled match never got underway.
Results
Men
2nd rd
Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-3, 7-5
Novak Djokovic (SRB x10) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x5) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5
Robin Haase (NED) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x3) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
Pablo Carreño-Busta (ESP x13) bt Bradley Klahn (USA) 6-4, 6-4
Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Sam Querrey (USA) 7-5, 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO x7) bt Marius Copil (ROU) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4
Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) bt Jérémy Chardy (FRA) 7-6 (8/6), 6-2
David Goffin (BEL x11) bt Benoît Paire (FRA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Nick Kyrgios (AUS x15) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 7-6 (7/1), 0-6, 6-3
Márton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Guillermo García-López (ESP) 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-5
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-4, 6-4
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