Playing in his first competitive singles match on the ATP Tour since August 5, the 20-times Grand Slam champion showed no signs of rust in his second round win against Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis.
Djokovic is clubbed with Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, David Goffin and Alexander Zverev.
Hubert Hurkacz battled back from a set and a break down to beat Casper Ruud 5-7 6-3 6-2 on Saturday and reach the Canadian Masters final.
Both will play their second-round singles matches on Thursday.
Bencic hopes Open organisers make it fair for players in isolation.
Rafael Nadal easily avoided the embarrassment of a back-to-back first round exits at the Australian Open on Tuesday, ramping up his serve and rattling off 39 winners to beat Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
Verdasco questions French Open COVID-19 testing protocols after withdrawal
Murray was made to fight for two hours and 52 minute
After a flawless first set from Mertens the tide turned in Andreescu's direction in the second when she fired a cross-court forehand winner to break the Belgian at love and take a 4-2 lead.
Russia, last year's runners-up, were unable to call on world number six Maria Sharapova who was injured
Serena Williams and Marin Cilic both survived third round scares on Friday to keep their US Open title defences on track but there was no escape for Rafael Nadal with the twice-winner going down in a late night thriller.
The 16-times Grand Slam champion, who has been slightly ill lately, was kept on his toes before racing to victory to set up a meeting with seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Images from Day 10 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Thursday.
A relieved Rafael Nadal felt the confidence come flooding back in a first-round romp at the Australian Open on Monday.
Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten start to the season to 15 matches as he swatted aside German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-1 with ease on Wednesday to reach the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals.
While knowing the limits of his body and full of praise for his team for being able to patch him up repeatedly, the 37-year-old admitted fortune has played a part in his longevity.
Serena Williams must navigate a heavily American quarter of the draw including sister Venus to complete a calendar sweep of the four Grand Slams, while two sensational quarter-finals loom on the men's side after Thursday's U.S. Open draw.
Roger Federer believes his six-month absence due to a knee injury could help prolong his playing career, with the 17-times Grand Slam winner saying he has enjoyed the break.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are top seeds at the major starting Monday
World number one Novak Djokovic blasted past qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
Images from Day 2 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday
The circuit agreed last year an extension to cover this year's race, which was held in August and without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after fears it would drop off the calendar.
Reigning champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named top seeds for the Australian Open starting on Monday.
Photos from matches played Day 7 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday
Simona Halep ended Beatriz Haddad Maia's dream run in Toronto
Australian Nick Kyrgios produced another extraordinary performance to demolish compatriot Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-3 at the Canadian Masters on Thursday, a day after stunning world number one Daniil Medvedev.
Andy Murray overcame a slow start and a third set service break to beat Taro Daniel 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of Indian Wells on Friday and notch his 700th career win.
With fire in their bellies, former Grand Slam champs Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are targetting a fresh return to the tennis courts in 2017.
Photos from Day 5 action at the Western & Southern Open at Cincinnati on Thursday.
German 11th seed Angelique Kerber became the highest-ranked player to reach the women's quarter-finals after she outclassed Switzerland's Belinda Bencic 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) at Wimbledon on Monday.
Caroline Wozniacki used her aggressive groundstroke game to near perfection on Tuesday and pummeled Italy's Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.
Overpowers Svitolina to reach second straight US Open final
It was a day of surprises at Flushing Meadows in New York as seeded players were knocked out one after the other on Friday.
British 13th seed Johanna Konta felt 'embarrassed' after recovering from a health scare at a humid US Open on Wednesday to claim her place in the third round with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.
Wimbledon debutant Eubanks ends Tsitsipas's challenge in fourth round.
World number two Rafael Nadal dropped a set at the Barcelona Open for the first time in four years before advancing to the last 16, beating Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday.
Kei Nishikori swept aside Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup.
Defending champion Djokovic fired his 15th ace on match point to defeat Querrey but his serve had been an issue earlier in their second-round encounter.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the US Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York, on Friday.
Ferrer, 37, announced earlier in the year he would end his 19-year career at the Madrid Open and prolonged his time on court by a day by beating Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday, but was easily overpowered by world number four Zverev.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances