Novak Djokovic overcomes Tomas Berdych in the semi-final – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
Reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, advanced to his third title match of this season, as he fought back after losing the opening set to beat his Czech opponent, Tomas Berdych, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-final at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Monaco on Saturday. It took the Serbian two hours and 42 minutes to win in windy conditions.
Djokovic and Berdych held their serve in the first five games of the opener, taking the score to 3-2 in the former’s favour. The Serbian drew the first blood, as he broke Berdych for a 4-2 advantage but the Czech came back in style, grabbing four successive games to close it 6-4.
Berdych was lucky to win the opening set, as he committed five horrible double faults and lost 8 of the 23 points on the second deliveries. The Czech managed to keep his first serve percentage merely at 41 but amazingly succeeded in converting 15 of the 16 of them into points.
After losing the first set, Djokovic made a great start in the second, as he captured opening three games to grab a 3-0 lead. The Serbian did not drop his serve even once till the end, winning it 6-3.
The 24-year-old pounded three aces but also hit four double faults. The Belgrade, Serbia resident saved all the four break points he faced and converted the only break opportunity he received in the second set.
Djokovic carried the winning momentum into the decider, making a couple of early breakthroughs to race to a 4-0 lead. Berdych put some effort to claim a couple of games but Djokovic served it out at 5-2.
The Serbian banged in two aces and 63 percent of the first serves, claiming 11 of the 17 points on them in the final set. Berdych was self destructive, as he committed three double faults and put in just 43 percent of the first deliveries.
Talking to the reporters after the match, the Djokovic said, "That's probably one of the most difficult conditions that I played in, in my career, really. It was not just the strength of the wind that was blowing, it was the changing of the direction. You couldn't really predict where the ball was going to come from. It was really tough. But in the end I managed to hold my nerves and play well in the third."
The Serbian will take on King of Clay, Rafael Nadal of Spain, in the final.
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