Novak Djokovic shatters Garcia Lopez in straight sets
At the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters today, Serbian tennis player Novak “Nole” Djokovic scored yet another victory in his bid for the ATP Tour event’s Cup. The World number 2 defeated Nadal-defeater Guillermo Garcia-Lopez from Spain in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, advancing to the semi-final of the tournament. Garcia Lopez finished the match with 3 aces, 4 double faults, 12 winners, 27 unforced errors and converting one breakpoint. Djokovic managed to fire 4 aces, with 2 double faults, 17 winners, 17 unforced errors and 4 of 10 breakpoint conversions.
The match started with Garcia Lopez serving the first game and scoring an immediate point with a winning forehand shot. He quickly turned the score to 30-0 in the first game, before Djokovic broke through and changed the tally to 30-15. However, on his next shot, Nole fired the ball too wide and Garcia Lopez was given a 40-15 advantage. However, Garcia Lopez gave out to Djokovic, turning the score to 40-30. The Spaniard was given a breakpoint which he failed to convert, and he handed over the advantage to Djokovic with a backhand into the net. Djokovic won the first game of the match, making the set score 1-0 in his favour.
Garcia Lopez proceeded to serve again, and after a considerable rally, fired his shots too far out, giving a 15-0 lead to Djokovic. Nole in the meantime served a winner with a soft lob over the net, and reached 30-0 before tripping to give Garcia Lopez 30-15 with a wide shot. Another similar mistake allowed Garcia Lopez to level at 30-30, and two backhands in the net brought the scores at par to one game per player, making the set report 1-1.
After this, the way for Djokovic was relatively clear – he converted breakpoints and although he shot no aces, a few well placed winners managed to win him the next 4 games. However, in the seventh game of the match, Djokovic trailed slightly with an unforced error which ultimately helped Garcia Lopez level at 3-3. Djokovic then shot a forehand into the net, and Garcia Lopez took his advantage and converted the break point with some assistance from Djokovic’s unforced error, giving the Spaniard the game and turning the set 5-2.
Djokovic however returned with a vengeance in the eighth game. He took the first point before Garcia Lopez caught up, and served before an intense rally resulting in a net shot. This gave Djokovic a 30-15 advantage which he quickly changed to 40-15. Djokovic then took the set with a graceful forehand and a score of 6-2.
During the second set, Djokovic had the first serve. Garcia Lopez scored the first point as a result of Djokovic’s backhand into the net. However, Garcia Lopez soon made the same mistake, managing to even the score out. Djokovic then fired a smash which Garcia Lopez fumbled, giving 30-15 to the Serb. The game ended with Djokovic firing a shot which his opponent missed that resulted in 1-0 to Djokovic.
Garcia Lopez then took the first point of the second game, 15-0. Djokovic equalled the score to 15-15 with an unforced error. The Spaniard recovered to 30-15, before Djokovic fumbled a shot, hit wide and turned the scored 40-15 in Garcia’s favour. Lopez then took the game, levelling the set score to 1-1.
The game proceeded with Djokovic and Garcia Lopez alternating dominance. Garcia Lopez seemed to have stepped up his play. But it did not last for long as he stuck at 5-3 with the match point going to Djokovic.
Djokovic then managed to take the first point in the ninth game, as well as the second point to make the score 30-0. At match point, Djokovic lobbed a ball over the net to win the match 6-2, 6-3, scoring himself a place in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
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