Djokovic struggles in Marseilles victory

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic led Thursday’s second-round winners at the Open 13 tennis tournament in Marseilles, beating Jan Hernych in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

The Serbian, still looking for his first tournament victory this season, squandered leads in both sets, which forced him to break serve twice to secure victory in a 92-minute match against his Czech opponent.

I was a little bit nervous and I made quite a lot of unforced errors, especially with my forehand, Djokovic told reporters. But the most important thing is that I won.

No. 2 Gilles Simon of France downed unseeded Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; and No. 4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France was an easy 6-3, 6-2 winner over Italy’s Simone Bolelli.

Simon won this event in 2007, while Tsonga captured the inaugural South African Tennis Open in Johannesburg two weeks ago.