Unbeatable Novak Djokovic knocks out Richard Gasquet in the fourth round – French Open 2011
World number 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia maintained his unbeaten record this year as he defeated local hope Richard Gasquet, ranked 16th in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 16 of French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday. It took the Serbian an hour and 47 minutes to undo his opponent in a one-sided clash.
Djokovic did not allow Gasquet to settle down as he broke the French in the opening game of the match and consolidated on it to go ahead 2-0. Both players kept holding their serve in the rest of the set and Djokovic served out the set at 5-4.
The Serbian was brilliant with the serve as he fired five aces and 68 percent of the first serves, sealing an amazing 95 percent of the points on them in the first set. The 24-year-old converted one of the two break points he received on Gasquet’s serve and saved all the three break points on his own serve in the opening set.
The second set went with serve until the seventh game, when Gasquet failed to hold his serve, trailing 3-4. Djokovic capitalised on the single break of serve and served out the set in the tenth game, claiming it 6-4.
The Serbian hit a couple of aces and 70 percent of the first deliveries in the second set, capturing a whopping 88 percent of the points on them. The right-handed won 41 percent of the receiving points and capitalised on the only break point opportunity he created in the second set.
Djokovic carried the winning momentum into the third set, breaking Gasquet in the third and fifth game to take a 5-1 lead. At 5-2, the Serbian held his serve, claiming the set 6-2 in just 34 minutes.
The six feet and two inches tall damaged his opponent with attacking service returns, converting 52 percent of the returns into points in the third set. The Serbian won two of the five break points he received in the third set.
Talking to the reporters after the match, Djokovic said, "It’s never easy and I didn’t expect it to be easy, that’s for sure. Maybe the score line says differently, but I had to work. The first two sets it was only one break that decided it. We were both winning our service games quite comfortably. Each set I played one really good return service game and that was enough.”
The Serbian added, "I think I’m playing really well at the moment and today I increased the level from the last match, which makes me even happier. I just want to maintain this level."
The Belgrade native is drawn to play world number 49 Fabio Fognini of Italy in the quarterfinals.
Tags: