If Novak Djokovic was spotty in taking out Xavier Malisse in the first round of Basel on Tuesday, the world No. 1 was clinical in his 6-1, 6-2 decimation of Poland's No. 1 player, Lukasz Kubot, in the second round today. Just 35 minutes into the match, with Djokovic already leading 6-1, 2-0, Kubot tried to serve and volley on four consecutive points. He had two cross-court backhand returns land at his toes, a down-the-line forehand return whiz by him for a winner, and he then double-faulted. The Tennis Channel announcer intoned, "A little bit embarrassing for Kubot right now. He's in a lonely place."
Kubot couldn't have been expecting much better. The 64th-ranked player had never beaten Djokovic in three previous encounters and never taken so much as a set off the Serb. In Kubot's three previous tournaments—Stockholm, Shanghai and Tokyo—he had lost in the first round. His doubles ranking of No. 38is higher than his singles ranking. And Djokovic loves an oncoming target, so Kubot's serve-and-volley game is made to order for the top seed's snapping returns of serve.
Djokovic will become the first player not named Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to end the year at No. 1 since Andy Roddick in 2003, and it was remarkable to see how quickly he went from playing his B-game against Malisse to playing his A-game against Kubot. Returning from the back muscle tear that sidelined him for six weeks, Djokovic served eight aces and only two double-faults after double-faulting seven times in the Malisse match. He won 14 of 20 points (70 percent) off of the Pole's second serve. His down-the-line shots off both wings had Kubot drained by the end of the first set. Gone were the indecision and copious drop shots that plagued him against Malisse.
Next up in the quarters for Djokovic is Marcos Baghdatis, who took out the No. 8 seed, Viktor Troicki, in the first round. Baghdatis is ranked No. 57 and has yet to beat Djokovic in five career meetings.
—Dan Markowitz
Dan Markowitz is writing a book on the upcoming 2012 season entitled "Chasing the GOAT: Roger, Rafa & Nole."