Novak reveals other passion
Novak reveals other passion 
From Scott Williams in Estoril, Portugal
Former Australian Captain May 01, 2007
SERBIA’S Novak Djokovic evoked a chorus of football-inspired jeers when he donned the crimson shirt of Portugal powerhouse Benfica after scraping a 6-2 4-6 7-6 (7-5) first-round Estoril Open win overnight.
The No.3 seed had to work to overcome Russia’s Igor Andreev, taking 2hr 42min to advance.
“This match was really difficult, I knew that before the start.
Andreev prefers this surface,” said the teen. “I’m not so pleased with my form, but I have to look on the positive side. It was good to get through such a tough match as this one. It can only help in the next round.”
Djokovic, now ranked a career-high No.5 in the world, was still riding a wave of emotion after attending a league match on Sunday, when Benfica drew 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon.
The 19-year-old said that the colours of Benfica were the deciding factor: “Red is my colour. I support Benfica, AC Milan and Manchester United.”
He will now face Spain’s Santiago Ventura, who defeated Argentina’s Sergio Roitman 7-5 6-2 on a day of wind and changing conditions.
Argentina’s Juan Monaco, a winner on clay in Buenos Aires in February, knocked out slumping France No.8 seedd Gael Monfils 7-5 1-6 6-2.
Monfils, 20, has now lost both his clay contests this year, in a dreadful start to the pre-Roland Garros campaign.
In the women’s event, Czech No.3 seed Lucie Safarova beat France’s Aravane Rezai 7-6 (7-5) 7-5, while No.5, Russia’s Olga Poutchkova, defeated compatriot Anatassia Rodionova 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-5).
Agence France-Presse