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Novak Djokovic, what happened in that second set?

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Novak Djokovic, seeded second at the BNP Paribas Open, was wearing a pair of shoes that looked like spats and they seemed to make him go ‘splat’ in the second set of his match against American veteran Mardy Fish on Saturday night.

But when it seemed as if Djokovic might not have care so much about playing a lot of tennis in a week that had started with him leading the Serbian Davis Cup team to an emotional win over the United States in Belgrade, the engaging 22-year-old found his wandering game in time to advance to a third-round match against Germany’s Philippe Kohlschreiber with a 6-1, 0-6, 6-2 win over Fish.

Djokovic said he just made too many unforced errors in the second set. ‘Also,’ he said, ‘this is the time I’m used to sleeping. I’m a little jet-lagged.’ Djokovic helped make the bundled up crowd happy after the match by pointing out that one of his coaches is Todd Martin, an American.

The tennis was spotty for Djokovic. As he said, besides the jet lag, he was cold. Most fans on the Stadium 1 Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden were wrapped in blankets. One couple was huddling under a Serbian flag and Djokovic had his head buried in his hoodie as he autographed some oversized tennis balls for loyal fans.

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This isn’t expected to be Djokovic’s only appearance in Southern California. He is one of the early commitments for the LA Open, which will be at UCLA from July 26 to August 1.

-- Diane Pucin

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