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World no.2 Novak Djokovic has won the first point for Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie against Croatia (09 July – 11 July 2010) with a 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 victory over world no.16 Ivan Ljubicic on indoor hard court in Split.
The match lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes.
Djokovic made a break already in the second game of the first set and then held to extend his lead to 3-0. Novak was serving for the set at 5-3, but Ljubicic converted his third break point and then consolidated the break to level to 5-5. The set was decided in a tie-breaker, Nole won it 7-3 in 67 minutes.
Ljubicic was playing better in the second set, he had more winners but he also made more unforced errors. Novak faced scare in the sixth game, but saved it to equalise the result to 3-3. The award came in the ninth game when the 23-year-old Belgrade native capitalised on his second chance for break for 5-4 and then served out the set 6-4.
The 31-year-old Croat won only one game in the third set. Novak made a triple break winning six games in a row for convincing 6-1 to bring the first point for Serbia.
Match statistics: aces (0-14), double faults (5-11), winners (17-43), unforced errors (25-62).
Listen to Novak’s audio interview here!
Croatian no.1 Marin Cilic (13) beat world no.44 Viktor Troicki 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in 2 hours and 23 minutes in the second match of the day to even the Davis Cup quarter-final tie at 1-all.
The doubles match is scheduled on Saturday at 15:00 CET.
