TENNIS LATEST: Djokovic Unstoppable Powering Into Dubai Duty Free Final Four

3 years ago by Comments Off on TENNIS LATEST: Djokovic Unstoppable Powering Into Dubai Duty Free Final Four

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic continues to be unstoppable powering into the final four at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

For a second night running the Serbian was in a class of his own, brushing aside gutsy 25-year-old Monaco-based Polish opponent Hubert Hurkacz with scores of 6-3 and 7-5.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic into the last four in the Dubai Duty Free Championship.

The six-and-half-foot tall Hurkacz, and one of the best servers in the men’s game, won the very first point of the match with a screaming ace but was soon cut down to size some 30 minutes later in losing the opening set 3-6.

If there was a turning point in the match it was Hurkacz, with career earnings just shy of $US 10m, to be tied at 5-5 and serving in the 11th game to go 6-5 up in the second set.

Three times Djokovic grabbed the ‘AD’ only for Hurkacz to get back to level before Djokovic broke service to go 6-5.

Djokovic then wrapped-up the last point in less than five minutes for a 6-3, 7-5 triumph.

He said: “Luckily for me, I found a good rhythm on my serve as Hubert plays his best tennis on quick surfaces. He’s also got one of the best, most lethal serves on the tour.

“When he’s like he was for most of the second set today, it’s very difficult to return his serve or get in the rally. He was going really quickly through his service games.

“So, I just waited patiently for the opportunities. When they were presented, I used them. A couple of break points that I missed in that 11th game, but finally I did play a great point on breakpoint, down-the-line backhand.

“Yeah, overall very pleased with the under-pressure moments and how I’m feeling each single day. I’m feeling better and better striking the ball and also physically on the court”.

A check of Djokovic’s stats shows the key to his victory in winning 29 of 36 (81%) of his first serves.

The Serbian sensation, apart from a three-setter to kick-start his Dubai campaign, has now waltzed into the semi-final and is not two matches away from a winning hat-trick of events to start the New Year.

Djokovic will now face Russian and past World No. 1 Danill Medvedev in the semi-final after the 27-year-old former US Open champ accounted for Croatian Bornac Coric 6-3, 6-2.

The now World No. 7 Medvedev, and like Djokovic, has also won twice this year with title wins in Rotterdam and Doha



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