DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Defending champion Novak Djokovic posted a solid straight-set victory Tuesday in a first-round match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Djokovic has won the event four of the last five years -- he lost in the semifinals in 2012 -- and opened his 2014 defense with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Denis Istomin. Djokovic improved to 5-0 all-time versus Istomin and has lost just one set in the series.