Novak Djokovic battles past Pablo Andujar into the last eight – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Top seed and defending champion, Novak Djokovic, survived some jolting moments to prevail over the unseeded Pablo Andujar in three sets 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-2 in the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, USA on Wednesday.
The top ranked Serbian required two hours and 16 minutes to beat the world number 45 in a tough battle.
The opener was a cakewalk for Djokovic, as the Serbian did not drop even a single game, snatching three breaks of serve to claim it 6-0.
Djokovic was not too good on the serve, hitting only one ace and 59 percent of the first deliveries. Though, he showed why he is called the best returner of the sport, pocketing eight of the 12 first and six of the eight second
replies in the opener.
Andujar, who gave his best ever performance at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level this week, fought well in the second set. The Spaniard was at par with the top ranked player in the first 12 games, levelling the score at 6-6
and forcing a tie-breaker. The 26-year-old won three straight points to take a 6-3 lead. Djokovic saved two set points but could not avoid the third, losing it 6-7(5).
The Serbian put away all the seven break points but Andujar’s superior serves helped him evening out the score at one set apiece.
After getting shocked in the second set, Djokovic took the aggressive approach. The Serbian played attacking shots, making a breakthrough in the very first game and capitalising on it take a 2-0 lead. The 24-year-old struck again
in the seventh game and served out the set at 5-2.
The right-hander revealed in the post match press conference, "He surprised me with his aggressive approach. He was taking the ball early and was playing well. Second set, I start playing a little bit more defensive, and that allowed
him to come back to the match. All the credit for him to play the way he played. The second set I could have won, but I managed to stay calm mentally and just find my rhythm again."
Djokovic and Andujar are friends since they faced each other in at 16 and Under match in Belgium
The Serbian said, "I had six match points, and I lost that match 7-6 in the third set. We joke around a bit at the times when we were growing up."
Djokovic will play 12th seed Nicolas Almagro for a place in the last four.
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