05. 09. 2010. ·
World no.3 Novak Djokovic defeated world no.108 American James Blake in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3 in 1 hour and 44 minutes to advance into the forth round at the US Open.
Novak saved two break points in the opening game of the match. He went on to hold when Blake sent a backhand into the net. Djokovic made a break in the second game and cruised through a very comfortable service hold to consolidate the break. He was looking very confident. The Serb got a quick second break when Blake hit a double handed backhand across court into the net. Novak took the set in just 22 minutes.
Blake broke Djokovic’s service in the sixth game of the second set, but the 23-year old from Belgrade broke back immediately and then held to 15 to equalise the result to 4-4. The set went into a tiebreaker, Nole made three mini-breaks, one more than his opponent, and won it 7-4.
Novak capitalised on his break point opportunity in the fourth game of the third set and then held to increase his lead to 4-1. He saved a break point in the seventh game to keep the advantage. The Serb was confident serving for the match and closed it 6-3.
“It’s a big mental struggle when you have such a strong wind to find a way how to try to play good tennis, especially if you have somebody across the net who is so aggressive, taking everything early and playing a risky game. My focus today was great,” said Nole after the match.
Djokovic served 4 aces to Blake’s 1.
He hit 14 winners to Blake’s 27, and made 13 unforced errors, 18 less than his opponent.
The Serb capitalised on 4 of his 6 chances for break, while the American converted 1 of his 4 break points.
Novak will play against no.19 seed Mardy Fish for a place in the quarter-finals. The American beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement in five sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
About his fourth-round match against Fish, Djokovic said: “I think he’s playing maybe his best tennis at this moment. He’s moving really well. He’s serving as good as he served always. He has a lot of talent. He’s recognising the moment, coming to the net. He has a lot of variety in the game. I guess I have to be on the top of my game to be able to win.”
Djokovic and Fish have met 4 times, Nole won all encounters.
