World no. 1 Novak Djokovic is through to his 13th quarter-final in Dubai from as many trips to the desert. Novak faced Tallon Griekspoor in the second round and scored a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 22 minutes. Djokovic and Griekspoor played an incredible game at 3-0 for the Serb in the second set.
The game went on and on and reached 14 deuces and six break points. In the end, Djokovic converted his sixth opportunity to wrap up a 15-minute game and raise his hands in celebration. The Serb served at 51%, and no one could notice that after dropping only nine points behind the initial shot.
Novak gave serve away once while serving for the victory and converted half of the return points into four breaks from 16 opportunities. Griekspoor stayed in touch with Djokovic in the quickest rallies up to four strokes, and world no.
1 took charge in the mid-range and most advanced exchanges. Novak fired 28 winners and 12 unforced errors and got 30 unforced mistakes from Tallon.
Novak Djokovic and Tallon Griekspoor played a marathon game in Dubai.
Djokovic produced four comfortable holds in the opening set and earned two return games for a reliable start.
He broke in the encounter’s second game with a forehand down the line winner and held at love for 3-0 in no time. A forehand winner sent the Serb 5-2 ahead, and he broke again in game eight after the rival’s double fault to wrap up the set.
Tallon missed a forehand in the second set’s second game to lose serve, and Novak blasted an ace in the next one for a hold at love and 6-2, 3-0 in under 50 minutes. The fourth game brought 14 deuces and six break points for Djokovic.
Tallon game his best to clinch it, squandering too many game points and netting a backhand to hand it to his opponent. Griekspoor served at 0-5 and saved two match points to avoid a bagel. He suddenly broke Novak in the next one when world no.
1 served for the victory to extend the duel. Griekspoor fired an ace in game eight before Djokovic landed a service winner at 5-3 for a hold at 15 and a place in the last eight. [embedded content]
