25. 02. 2011. ·
Defending champion Novak Djokovic came back from a set down to advance into the finals of the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Dubai for the third year in a row.
No.3 seed Czech Tomas Berdych retired at 6-7(5), 6-2, 4-2 for Nole after 2 hours and 20 minutes of play.
There were no break point opportunities in the first set until the 12th game when Novak made an unforced error to give the Czech two set points. He saved the first with an ace and on second Berdych hit into the net. Djokovic went on to hold and the set went into a tiebreaker. Berdych won it 7-5.
The 23-year-old Belgrade native cruised through his opening service game of the second set, and earned his first break point of the match in the second game which looked like the start of his comeback. Berdych held this time, but he could not resist much longer. Novak’s body language was improving, he started playing much better. He was more aggressive, and the Czech lost his momentum and fell under Djokovic’s pressure in the fourth game. The best Serbian tennis player broke his opponent’s serve once again in the eighth game and took the set 6-2.
Nole grabbed a break in the sixth game of the decisive final set for 4-2 lead, when Berdych retired due to a left quadriceps injury.
“I don’t know how to explain today’s match really. In one word: catastrophe,” said Djokovic. “I think the match overall and my game, it was the worst match this year for me, worst performance. But I managed to get a win, so I guess that’s what matters.”
Novak improved to a 19-2 match record at the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tennis event. The Serb is currently on a 13-match winning streak, having won his second Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open three weeks prior to his return to Dubai.
He will play against top seed Roger Federer in attempt to win the third consecutive title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The world no.2 defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-2, 7-5.
Djokovic and Federer have played 20 matches, the Swiss leads 13-7. Novak won their last encounter in Australian Open semi-finals 7-6(3), 7-5, 6-4.
“We know each other really well. We know each other’s game. Mostly in the past three, four years we had matches in semis or finals. It’s always high stakes and a big challenge. That’s what it’s all about. If you want to be the best, you have to win against the best,” said Nole about tomorrow’s rival.
The final match is scheduled on Saturday at 4:00pm CET.
