Djokovic advances after opponent withdraws

Top seed Novak Djokovic advanced into the second round of the World Indoor Tournament on Tuesday when his Ukrainian opponent Sergiy Stakhovsky withdrew with knee problems while trailing 6-2, 4-1.

Serbia's Djokovic, making his first appearance since he suffered indigestion in his quarter-final loss at the Australian Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, wrapped up the first set in 32 minutes with two service breaks.

An early double break in the second set followed and the world number two now has a second round meeting with Swiss Marco Chiudinelli, who clinched a third set tie-break to beat 2008 champion Michael Llodra of France 6-1, 6-7, 7-6.

"You always wish for an easy first round match because it is a bit tricky as you have to get used to the surface, light and surroundings," Djokovic said.

Frenchmen Julien Benneteau also reached the next round easily with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over seventh-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, a finalist here in 2005 and 2007.