06. 09. 2010. ·
In the fourth round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, world no.3 Novak Djokovic defeated no.19 seed American Mardy Fish in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in 1 hour and 50 minutes to book a quarter-final spot at the US Open.
Novak broke Fish in the second game of the match. The American broke back immediately, but the 23-year-old Belgrade native broke his opponent’s service once again and then held to 15 to consolidate the break. He wrapped up the first set 6-3 in 38 minutes.
Djokovic made a break in the fifth game of the second set to go 3-2 up. He faced three break points in the next game, but held to increase his lead. Nole was confident serving for the set and closed it 6-4.
The no.3 seed broke Fish three times in the third set for 6-1 and moved into the last eight in New York.
“It’s very encouraging fact at this stage of the tournament that I’m raising my game and feeling more comfortable on the court,” said Novak after the match. “I played a great match today. Conditions were tough as well with a strong wind. I was using my serve in important moments extremely well and opening the court and kind of not giving him enough chances to come to the net and be aggressive.”
“It’s important to perform your best tennis at Grand Slams, and this was my aim for 2010,” added Nole. “It’s gonna be my aim for next year. They are the most important events, and it’s where you want to perform the best tennis you can. It’s been happening so far for me. I have to be happy with the results.”
Djokovic served 5 aces to Fish’s 3. Both players made 4 double faults.
Novak hit 30 winners to his opponent’s 13, and made 28 unforced errors, 2 less than Fish.
The Serb converted 6 of his 8 break points, while the American capitalised on only 1 of his 4 chances for break.
Highlights
For a place in the semi-finals, Novak will face no.17 seed Gael Monfils. The Frenchman beat his fellow countryman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-5, 7-5.
Djokovic and Monfils have met four times, Nole won all matches.
2009: ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris, finals – 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3)
2008: Beijing Olympics, quarter-finals – 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
2006: Roland Garros, R16 – 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-3
2005: US Open, R128 – 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 0-6, 7-5
