ATHENS:

Novak Djokovic returned after three weeks out of action to ease past Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets at the Athens ATP tournament on Tuesday.

Top seed Djokovic, the recipient of a first-round bye at the indoor hard-court tournament, won through 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 against his 89th-ranked opponent in the round of 16.

Djokovic, 38, had lost his previous two meetings against Tabilo, a decade younger, on clay in Rome last year and Monte Carlo this season.

"Playing against Tabilo, who I had never won against, I was more under tension before the match than some other matches and I really tried to draw the energy from the crowd," Djokovic said.

"It feels really at home, playing in Athens," continued the 24-times Grand Slam winner who has recently moved to Athens.

"A few months ago when

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