Dubai Tennis: Djokovic Loses In Straight Sets To Medvedev

1 year ago by Comments Off on Dubai Tennis: Djokovic Loses In Straight Sets To Medvedev

.…. Dubai Tennis Centre

World No. 1 Novak Jjokovic has been bundled out, losing his Dubai Duty Free semi-final showdown in straight sets against big-hitting World No.7 Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian-born Medvedev handed Djokovic a comprehensive 6-4, 6-4 defeat to set-up a Saturday final showdown against defending Dubai champ and compatriot Audrey Rublev.

Medvedev and Rublev being the current World No. 6 and 7 in the world.

Medvedev, 27, took it right to his eight years older Serbian rival, breaking serve in the opening set and winning in 40 minutes.

It ensured Djokovic needing to go three sets if he was to reach the final, and this after being pushed to three sets in his Tuesday opener encounter against Czech Tomas Machac after losing the second set of three.

However, Medvedev was reading a different script and taking it straight back to Djokovic breaking service in the first game of the second set and then going 2up on his own serve.

Medvedev, who humbled Djokovic to capture the 2021 US Open, then held serve to win the second set also 6-4 and wrap up the match in 96 minutes.

Medvedev said: “Every time I beat Novak is an amazing feeling. He’s probably the greatest tennis player of all time, or at least one of the two or one of the three, I don’t know, one of five, whatever (smiling). Amazing player.

“Of course, beating him in the US Open final was my best memory because that’s my only slam. To beat someone like him in the final is just a dream come true and forever in my memories.

“In terms of this comparison, maybe this one is a little bit less because it’s not the final, it’s the semis. I have an important match to play tomorrow.

“But it’s always a pleasure to beat Novak. When I say this, it’s not in a greedy way, it’s just that every time it gives you extra boost of confidence, like, Wow, I was able to beat Novak, I can for sure beat anybody”

The loss it Jjokovic’s first in three matches this year having won the Adelaide International and Australian Open earlier this year.

A Djokovic win in Dubai would have been a sixth Dubai victory crown and just one adrift of Roger Federer’s record-setting victory haul of seven wins.

Medvedev heads to the final looking to make it win No. 16 and also begin making amends for a serious leg injury that saw him taken off centre court at Roland Garros last year in a wheelchair after a serious leg injury in a semi-final showdown against eventual winner Rafael Nadal

For Rublev, he now has the chance to become the first repeat champion since Federer did so in 2013 and ’14.



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