PERTH, Australia — Novak Djokovic shook off jetlag to beat Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4 Monday to help Serbia beat Italy 2-1 at the Hopman Cup then avoided injury after the match when a courtside barrier collapsed while signing autographs. Djokovic was signing autographs when the divider fell. It hit the Serb on his legs as it crashed and several fans went tumbling to the ground. Leaving his racquets and bag on the court, Djokovic limped straight up the tunnel to receive a medical assessment in the locker room. He later returned to the court for the mixed doubles, won by Italy 7-6 (4), 6-4. “It was a bit of a shock and I'm glad that the children involved are OK. I am fine,” said Djokovic, who was more concerned about his condition pre-match because of fatigue from jetlag. Djokovic arrived in Perth less than 24 hours before he stepped on court, but still had a straight-sets win to add to Ana Ivanovic's 6-0, 6-4 victory over Francesca Schiavone, giving Serbia a win in the group-stage of the mixed teams event. “I arrived quite late last night and didn't get long hours of sleep and felt this morning like I'm dream-walking,” Djokovic said. “But as the match went on I was managing to get my rhythm. I broke the ice after the first set and felt a little bit better.” Djokovic got off to a good starting jumping out 2-0, but he later struggled to hold for 5-2. In the second set a double-fault gave Djokovic a break to lead 3-2, but he again struggled to maintain his lead and had to fight off four break points at 4-3 before completing his victory. Earlier, Ivanovic faced the challenge of two break points in the opening game and it took her five break points to establish a 2-0 lead, but then she looked aggressive and confident as she swept through the remainder of the first set. Schiavone took 36 minutes to win her first game and hold for 1-1 in the second set, and the Italian then offered a stronger challenge. On Tuesday, The American team of John Isner and Venus Williams will take on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson of France. Bartoli advances In China, second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France sailed into the second round of the Shenzen Open Monday with an easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Hong Kong's Chan Wing-yau. Bartoli will next play Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele, who defeated Timea Babos of Hungary 6-4, 7-5. Julia Cohen of United States also advanced, recovering to beat 80th-ranked Nina Bratchikova of Russia 0-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5. In other first-round matches, fifth-seeded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic defeated her countrywoman Andrea Hlavackova 6-1, 6-1, while No. 6 Peng Shuai of China beat Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-4, 6-0. Eighth-seeded Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia also booked a second-round berth with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Alexandra Cadantu of Romania. — Agencies
