Djokovic survives three-set match in China

BEIJING, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Novak Djokovic survived a three-set match but No. 2-seed David Ferrer retired due to illness and is out of the China Open in Beijing.

Djokovic, who won the tournament in 2009 and 2010, defeated Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 in a first-round match. He won three-quarters of the points on serve and was even stronger (84 percent) in the one set he lost. Djokovic managed a pair of breaks in each the first and third sets.

Lu Yen-Hsun advanced when Ferrer, complaining of a stomach virus, retired in the first set down 5-4.

Mikhail Youzhny also gained the second round via an upset, knocking off seventh-seeded Tommy Haas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Haas hampered his own game with 10 double faults and lost his serve four times.

No. 3-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga just got by Denis Istomin 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) despite losing his serve just once. Fifth-seeded Richard Gasquet took out Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-4 Tuesday other first-round action involving a seeded player.

Jurgen Melzer stopped Pablo Andujar 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3); Nikolay Davydenko defeated Alex Bogomolov Jr. 7-5, 6-1; Feliciano Lopez edged by Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-2; and Andreas Seppi was up 6-1, 2-0 when Julien Benneteau retired.