Djokovic Through to the Third Round of Rogers Cup.

Novak Djokovic’s bid to claim a third consecutive Rogers Cup title got off to an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 win over German Florian Mayer in Montreal.

Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic.

Since losing to Andy Murray in the final match of Wimbledon, Novak returned with the usual firepower against the number 50-ranked Mayer, eventually claiming victory in 55 minutes.

With the hope that the Canadian championship serves as a preparatory tournament for the US Open, which starts on August 26 at Flushing Meadows in New York, the Serb proved too hot for his opponent.

Mayer double-faulted to lose the opening set, and could find no way back in the second.

“I’m keeping my mind-set of step-by-step, one match at a time. I needed extra commitment from the start and everything went well on court,” Djokovic said.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal needed to play the doubles event to build up his match fitness after almost two months away from competitive tennis.

The fifth-seed teamed up with compatriot Pablo Anduja to beat fellow Spaniards David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez 6-7, 6-1,12-10 in the first round of the men’s doubles.