Novak Djokovic has admitted that he needed 'mental toughness' to beat Vasek Pospisil in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The top seed secured his progress on Monday with a 6-4 6-4 triumph over the Canadian.
Despite expressing concerns over the consistency of his serve, Djokovic is happy to have booked his place in the second round of the tournament.
"I'm still looking for that rhythm on the court, but I managed to stay mentally tough," he told the ATP's official website. "I was patient in rallies, I thought. As soon as we get through the rally, I have a better chance of winning. He's a very flashy player, aggressive, goes after his shots.
"He served well first set. I just utilised my opportunities. When his first serve percentage dropped, I knew that's my chance. I won a lot of those second serve points. I think that's what decided the match, even though my serve wasn't at the level where I wanted it to be today. So hopefully the next match can be better."
Djokovic will now face Andrey Golubev for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Jack Prescott
