World no. 5 Novak Djokovic prevailed over Quentin Halys 7-6, 7-6 in the second round in Adelaide. Djokovic had to work hard against the Frenchman, trailing 5-2 in the first set and settling into a fine rhythm after that. Haly fended off two match points at 4-5 in the second set to remain in touch with a 21-time Major winner until the end.
However, Djokovic played better in both tie breaks to emerge at the top and avoid a decider. Novak claimed six points more in the opening set and claimed it in the tie break after a 5-2 deficit! Halys served first and blasted an ace to bring the game home and gain confidence.
Djokovic missed a routine volley in the second game and got broken after the rival’s backhand down the line return winner. Novak stayed calm and created two break chances with a forehand down the line winner in game three.
Quentin saved the first with a smash winner and denied the second with a volley winner at the net.
Novak Djokovic prevailed over Quentin Halys in Adelaide.
The Frenchman landed an ace down the T line to wrap up the game and make a perfect start to the match.
Novak held in the fourth game with a forehand winner before Quentin fired a service winner in the next one for a 4-1 advantage. The Serb grabbed the sixth game with a forehand drive-volley winner and netted a backhand in the next one to find himself 5-2 behind.
Finding the rhythm, Djokovic secured the eighth game with a forehand winner and had one more chance to prolong the set. Like a true champion, Novak broke at love in game nine to extend the action and gain a massive boost. World no.
5 held at 30 in game ten to lock the result at 5-5 and increase the drama. They served well in games 11 and 12 to introduce a tie break. Like many times before, Novak stayed calm and built a 5-0 advantage with three mini-breaks on his tally following a forehand down the line winner.
Halys reduced the deficit to 6-3 before Djokovic seized the third set point after 58 minutes. Novak’s serve was on fire in the second set, and Quentin followed that pace to remain in touch. The Serb closed the opening game at love with a forehand crosscourt winner and moved 2-1 up with another.
A serve & volley combo sent Djokovic 3-2 ahead, and Halys locked the result at 3-3 with a service winner in the next one. They both served well in the next three games before the Frenchman experienced two match points at 4-5.
Quentin denied both and held with an ace to lock the result at 5-5. Novak closed the 11th game from 30-0 down, and Quentin held at love a few minutes later to introduce the second tie break. Halys opened a 4-3 gap with a booming serve, and Novak grabbed the next point with a volley winner at the net.
A forehand winner sent the Serb 5-4 up, and the Frenchman followed that pace in the tenth point to stay neck and neck. Novak grabbed a decisive mini-break in the 11th point and seized the third match point at 6-5 with a forced error to emerge at the top.
