Novak Djokovic downs Janko Tipsarevic to reach the semis – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2012
World number one, Novak Djokovic, rallied past his Serbian compatriot, Janko Tipsarevic, in the quarter-final clash of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday. The top seed Serb took one hour and 36 minutes to gust
away the world number nine in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(6), to advance into his second consecutive semi-final of the current year.
Being a part of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 500 swing, the exciting contest was played on the outdoor hard courts of the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 24-year-old Djokovic
carried on his unbeaten run of the current season to register his 10th successive victory. He doubled his head-to-head tally against Tipsarevic by 4-2, while remaining on course to win his 30th ATP championship title.
The top-ranked Serb took off the opening set in a belligerent fashion, absolutely annihilating the seventh seed Tipsarevic with a breadstick. It appeared as if it would be a totally one-sided affair but a tremendous comeback from
the other Serbian in the second set stunned everyone. Tipsarevic stretched the world number one to his limits but couldn’t restrain him from claiming the second set tie-breaker round to conclude the matchup.
"I thought I started really well," assessed Djokovic. "He was missing first serves, didn't have a high percentage. Then in the second set, whenever I had a break ball he served well. So he was very close to take that second set.
Then who knows what could have happened. We both got a little bit nervous towards the end, I guess, and it was just luck to prevail."
Both these countrymen last met at the 2011 season-ending Grand Finale, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London and Tipsarevic stunned the top seed Djokovic in a stiff three-setter. He failed to replicate his heroics on Thursday
and finished on the losing side to end his voyage in Dubai.
Djokovic delivered 67 per cent of his first serve on target, winning 30 out of 40 points on it and belting 7 thudding aces en route to victory. The top seed Serb crafted five break opportunities in the match and converted two of
them to dump Tipsarevic, who badly failed to even construct a break chance in the entire contest.
Djokovic will take on the world number four, Andy Murray, in the semi-final clash of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday afternoon.
Tags: