Djokovic, Nadal struggle in Madrid Open

Novak Djokovic got off to a ragged start in his first match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday, while Rafael Nadal needed almost three hours to advance to the third round.

Djokovic, the defending champion who was handed a first round bye in this year's tournament, recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the third set to close out a 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 second-round victory over Spanish wild card Nicolas Almago.

Nadal was pushed hard for his opening win of the tournament, saving 12 of 16 break points, as he outlasted Fabio Fognini 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4. The world number five had also been

given a bye in the first round.

Meanwhile, Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic defeated Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-4, 6-4, while Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori rallied to a 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory over Diego Schwartzman.

Asia's top player next faces Spain's David Ferrer, who advanced when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew prior to their match with a right shoulder injury.

Czech Tomas Berdych, seeded 11th, advanced past Dutchman Robin Haase 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, while 16th seed Nick Kyrgios beat Ryan Harrison 6-3, 6-3.

In the women's third round, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard had another victory, as Angelique Kerber quit with a hamstring problem trailing 6-3, 5-0.

Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Wang Qiang of China 6-4, 7-5 and Latvian Anastasia Sevastova beat Spain's Lara Arruabarrena 7-5, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Romanian holder Simona Halep beat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Endit