World No. 1 Novak Djokovic hardly worked-up a sweat breezing into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championship with an effortless straight two sets win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
After being seriously tested in Tuesday’s opening match, Djokovic was near his best, crushing the World No. 39 ranked Griekspoor 6-2, 6-and much to the delight of a packed open-air stadium located in the heart of the Irish Village in Dubai.
Djokovic, wearing the same green-and-yellow coloured attire as a day earlier, accounted for Griekspoor in just 1 hour and 21 minutes, and an hour less than this testing three-setter success the night before against Czech Tomas Machac.
Nothing to see here, just another INCREDIBLE @DjokerNole return🤯#DDFTennis #ATP @atptour pic.twitter.com/maThXrkpjc
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) March 1, 2023
He said: “It’s been a great evening for me. Yesterday, I really had to work hard to get a win.
“Tonight, right from the beginning I was sharp. I played better quality tennis.
“Maybe the last three or four games were not the best to close the match but I managed to find a good serve in the end.
“So, I’m very pleased… with the way I felt on the court and hopefully things can go in the right direction for tomorrow.”
The five-time Dubai winner sent down 29 service winners to maintain his record of having never lost a quarter-final in 13 Dubai showings.
Djokovic arrived in Dubai celebrating becoming the longest either men’s or women’s World No. 1 while he’s also unbeaten in two earlier events in 2023 – the Adelaide International and Australian Open.
Djokovic seems to be in a great place, at present, and including off the court and attending, and he showered and changed, the players party following Tuesday’s win, and where was seen laughing and joking with his fellow players and guests.
As well, the fact centre court matches do not start prior to 3pm local time each day helps in attending such functions.
