Novak Djokovic defeats Tomas Berdych; moves to the final of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
Second seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia qualified for the final of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship by beating Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic on Friday.
The Serb was leading the match 6-7, 6-2, 4-2 when his opponent was forced to retire due to a quadriceps injury.
Djokovic did not start the match very well and was erratic throughout the opening set. However, he managed to take the set to a tie breaker. The world number 3 saved two set points serving at 5-6. Berdych took an early lead in
the tie breaker and kept the pressure on Djokovic. The Czech won the tie breaker 7-5 to clinch the opening set.
Berdych hit eight aces and 59 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. He had two break points but was unable to win any of them. Djokovic hit five aces and won 71 per cent of the points on his first serve.
The Serb stepped up his game after losing the first set and broke Berdych in the fourth game of the second set to take a 3-1 lead. Djokovic broke his opponent again in the eighth game and won the set 6-2.
Berdych was hindered by a quadriceps injury in the second set and felt pain in his left leg. He hit one ace and a low 32 per cent of the first serves in the second set.
Taking complete advantage of Berdych’s slow movement, Djokovic broke the Czech in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. At this moment, Berdych retired and forfeited the match to Djokovic. The match lasted for 2 hours and 22 minutes.
"I was just not able to serve, move to the sides, and just felt pain," Berdych said in the post match press conference. "There was no chance to just play with this guy in the condition that I was feeling. I need to get healthy
again and get to feel strong and be ready for another two very tough tournaments which are waiting for me in the States."
Although Djokovic won the match, he was not happy with his performance.
"I don't know how to explain today's match really. In one word, catastrophe," the Serb said. "I think the match overall and my game, it was the worst I think match this year for me, worst performance. But I managed to get a win,
so I guess that's what matters.”
Djokovic is a two time defending champion here and will try to complete his hat-trick of titles when he plays the top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland in the final on Saturday.
The Serb defeated the world number two when the pair met last time in the semi-final of Australian Open last month.
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