Djokovic Dominates Istomin to Extend Winning Streak

© Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic makes a grand entrance Friday night.

Novak Djokovic took the court this evening looking as if he would do battle. The Serbian showed off the helmet and goggles he wore for his stunt for Head in which he played tennis on the wings of a flying plane, and carried his high-tech racquet in a sleek case that looked like it came straight out of a James Bond movie.
 
He and his opponent, Denis Istomin, warmed up in red shirts marked with the Japanese flag, in support of this evening’s charity event. Players from the men and women’s tours donned the same shirts and walked through the stands collecting donations for the Red Cross relief efforts for the Japan earthquake.

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Djokovic was all energy tonight, from his unconventional entrance, to his fervent support of the Japanese cause, to the 48 minutes he took to close out the match against Istomin. He won the first set in about 20 minutes, and played on to win the match 6-0. 6-1. Djokivic is 19-0 this year, and earned his 21st straight win this evening.
 
“Everything was working perfect,” Djokovic said after the match. “Most of the shots I was hitting were winners, so I wasn't making a lot of mistakes.” He broke Istomin five times, replicating the form that earned him the title last week at Indian Wells and elevated him to World No. 2 this week.
 
He doesn’t feel added pressure, however, despite his powerful start to the year. “I'm fresh mentally, motivated to have even more success.  I'm looking to upcoming challenges.  I know it's only been a couple of months of the year, but I have been playing great, and I want to keep on doing that,” he said.

In contrast to Djokovic's easy win, Juan Martin del Potro fought off two break points in the final game of a three-hour epic with German Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the third round, where he will meet Robin Soderling. The 6’ 6” Argentine, who last week reached the semi-finals of Indian Wells, withstood 43 aces in a match lasting 3 hrs., 3 mins.