Djokovic suffers doubles setback

NOVAK Djokovic falters in the Japan Open doubles event. AFP

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Forced out of the US Open with a shoulder injury, world number one Novak Djokovic, suffered a doubles defeat at the Japan Open, but proved his recovery is on track.

Bruno Soares of Brazil and Mate Pavic of Croatia beat the 32-year-old Serbian star and his countryman Filip Krajinovic 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 to progress to the quarterfinals.

The doubles experts survived Djokovic’s powerful serves with crisp volleying as their quick court coverage overwhelmed the Serbian pair’s bold shots.

Top seed Djokovic will make his Japan Open singles debut on Tuesday playing Alexei Popyrin, a 20-year-old Australian, at the Ariake Coliseum, a venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.