03. 12. 2010. ·
World no.3 Novak Djokovic defeated world no.42 Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 in 2 hours and 18 minutes in the second match of the day to even the Davis Cup World Group final tie against France (03 December – 05 December 2010) at 1-all.
Novak converted his fourth break point in the seventh game of the opening set and then consolidated the break for 5-3 lead. The 23-year-old from Belgrade broke Simon’s serve to love in the ninth game to seal the first set 6-3 in 44 minutes.
The best Serbian tennis player was dominating in the second set. He made a double break for 5-1 lead, and won it 6-1 in just 27 minutes.
Nole broke his opponent’s serve in the third game of the third set. He had two match points in the tenth game, but Simon used his second break point opportunity to level the result to 5-5. Djokovic broke back immediately and this time he served out the set and match 7-5 to bring the first point for Serbia.
Match statistics: aces (12-5), double faults (1-3), winners (62-22), unforced errors (36-26), total points won (96-64).
“Nothing is easy, even though results-wise it was 6-3, 6-1 in the first two sets,” said Novak after the match. “At this level you’ve got to be on top of your game to win these matches. I felt pressure and expectation, but that’s normal, it’s the Davis Cup final and the first time for Serbia to be in such an occasion.”
Gael Monfils gave France a 1-0 lead earlier today as he beat world no.49 Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-0 in 2 hours and 5 minutes.
The doubles match is scheduled on Saturday at 15:00 CET. Serbian duo Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki face Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement.
On Sunday at 13:00 CET world no.3 Novak Djokovic plays against Gael Monfils. The second match sees Tipsarevic take on Simon.
Team captains have the right to change the players until an hour before the match.
