INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—Novak Djokovic said he simply got off to a slow start in his opening-round match against Bjorn Fratangelo at Indian Wells.
Djokovic dropped the first set and allowed his opponent to break back in the third before securing a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 win. He described it as "just one of those days.”
"I just was very low intensity,” Djokovic said. “[My] legs were not there.”
The world No. 1 did add that Fratangelo "played really good tennis, especially in the first set."
The Serb called the victory a mental effort.
"I managed to regroup in the second," he said. "I felt the third started well, and that I played a loose game to get him the break back, and got him back in the match … [I] haven't played really great except [the] second set. Other than that, just finding a way to win.
"Today is one of those days where you don't feel the ball well. You know, swirly conditions, and just being tough. Trying to win with experience."
Djokovic plays Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round.