INDIAN WELLS – Novak Djokovic said that it felt “like home” despite being pushed by Aleksandar Vukic before holding on to win his first match back in Indian Wells on March 9 after a five-year absence.

The world No. 1, seeking to capture a record sixth title at the California desert tournament, has not competed there since 2019 as he was unable to enter the United States owing to travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Serb, 36, still received a warm welcome from fans for the 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory over his Australian opponent.

“It certainly does feel like home. Five years is a very long time for a tennis player. They call this tournament ‘tennis paradise’ for a reason. It’s so amazing to be part of it as a player and a fan. There’s a great community, great culture, great love for the sport,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview.

In his first match since falling in the Australian Open semi-finals to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in January, the top seed looked fresh, breaking serve in the opening game and capturing the first set with an ace.

But Vukic found the range with his powerful forehand in the second set and finally broke serve when Djokovic’s backhand up the line narrowly missed its target.

The Serb’s fifth unforced error of the set brought up set point, and Vukic hammered a stunning return winner to send the match to a third set.

In the decider, a crushing forehand gave Djokovic a break for the 3-2 lead before he hit a lob Vukic could not handle on match point to advance to the third round.

“It was difficult to go through him. He played amazing,” said Djokovic, who will next take on Italy’s Luca Nardi.

“He was ripping his forehand and crushing his serve. In the third set I managed to crack the code. I stepped it up and finished the match in great style.”

Earlier, American Taylor Fritz put on a serving clinic to beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

The 2022 champion never faced a break point and fired his 14th ace on match point to beat the Chilean under sunny skies before a crowd supporting the San Diego native.

“It’s unreal,” Fritz said. “I was coming to this tournament as a kid for a long time and this is my favourite stop of the whole year, just to hear the crowd and the support when I walk out is incredible.”

Milos Raonic withdrew ahead of his clash with seventh seed Holger Rune due to a calf strain.

The former world No. 3 was also forced to pull out from the Australian Open and Rotterdam with injuries in what has been a tough start to the year for the 33-year-old.

Former champion Cameron Norrie, French teenager Arthur Fils and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov all progressed in straight sets to reach the third round.

In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff overcame a 5-2 third-set deficit against unseeded Frenchwoman Clara Burel to emerge with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory and reach the third round, while fellow American Jessica Pegula crashed out of the tournament.

“I’m happy with the mental fight,” Gauff said.

“It wasn’t my best tennis, but it’s not about how you show up on your good days, it’s how you show up on your bad ones and I’m happy with how I showed up today.”

Gauff’s doubles partner and fifth seed Pegula was unable to stage a comeback of her own against Anna Blinkova, falling 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Emma Raducanu advanced to take on Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka after Dayana Yastremska was forced to retire with an illness from their match while trailing 4-0 in the first set.

Sabalenka battled to beat Peyton Stearns 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

Naomi Osaka continued to build momentum after the 2018 champion dispatched 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova 7-5, 6-3 with her powerful ground game. REUTERS, AFP