World No.1 Novak Djokovic was forced to dig deep to ensure his progression in this week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the evergreen Serbian belatedly edging out qualifier Tomas Machac in a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (1) opening round victory at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Chasing a sixth Dubai title, Djokovic, the event’s top seed and a five-time champion, appeared on course for a routine win after a straight-forward opening set. Machac, however, stirred the prospect of an unlikely upset with a relentless series of scintillating backhand winners that left Djokovic staring at the sky in bewilderment as the World No.130 clinched the second set to level the match.

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