19. 02. 2009. ยท
Novak Djokovic is through to the quarterfinals of the Open 13 tournament. He defeated Jan Hernych in straight sets, 7:5 6:4 in 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Novak opened the match very well. He broke his opponent’s service already in the second game and then held for 3:0. Number three in he world was serving for the set at 5:3, but he lost his focus, Hernych put the pressure and made a break. The Czech held to equalise to 5:5. Djokovic didn’t let the set to go to a tie-breaker. He broke Hernych’s service for the second time in the 12th game to take it 7:5.
The beginning of the second set had the same scenario as the first. Nole took the game on Jan’s service in the second game. Hernych failed to convert five break points in the third and the fifth game, but he earned three more in the seventh, and managed to break. Number 68 in the world then equalised to 4:4, but the Serb won the next two games to close the set 6:4 and reach the quarterfinals in Marseille for the first time.
Djokovic hit 5 aces and converted 4 of 7 break points. He won 76 points in the match, 10 more than his opponent.
Novak will play against Misha Zverev (76) for a place in the semifinals. The German beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement in three sets, 6:4 5:7 6:2. The two players have never met before.
