26. 02. 2009. · Number three in the world Novak Djokovic improved to 12-4 on the 2009 ATP World Tour season after defeating Marin Cilic in 2 sets, 6:3 6:4, in 1 hour and 38 minutes at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday.
Nole earned himself three break points in the fourth game, and converted the first with a fantastic drop shot. The Serb held to love to increase his lead to 4:1. At 5:3 Cilic had two break points and a chance to come back into the set, but the 21-year old saved both and closed it 6:3.
No.1 seed broke Cilic’s service in the fifth game of the second set to go up 3:2. He faced scare in the eighth game, but managed to save two break points to keep the lead and took the set 6:4 to book himself a place in the semifinals.
Djokovic will next play against Gilles Simon. The Frenchman defeated his compatriot Fabrice Santoro in straight sets, 7:6(3) 6:1.
Novak and Gilles have played twice so far. Simon won in Marseille last year, Nole was better at the Masters Cup in the Shanghai.
