Felciano Lopez speaks about his daunting Djokovic challenge - UBITENNIS

Felciano Lopez speaks about his daunting Djokovic challenge

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read
Feliciano Lopez (Photo by Jewel Samad)

Feliciano Lopez produced the best result in his career at the US Open when he defeated Fabio Fognini in straight sets to reach his maiden quarter-final in the tournament at the age of 33.

The reward for the Spaniard will be a last eight meeting with world number one Novak Djokovic. Djokovic beat another Spanish player, Roberto Baustista Agut, in his fourth round match. Lopez will be familiar with the Serbians playing style after playing him on five separate encounters between 2007-2012. His head-to-head record against Djokovic is dire with a win-loss of 0-5. The 33-year-old has played 12 sets against the top seed in his career, but has only won one of them (Dubai 2011).

With the odds being stacked against him, the left-handed 33-year-old candidly admitted in his after match press conference that if Djokovic is playing at his best, he doesn’t know what to do. Nevertheless, Lopez still intends to enjoy meeting number 6 with the Serbian king of tennis.

When Novak plays good, you don’t know what to do to be honest. He has no weaknesses in his game”. He said.
“I just have to try my best, take the chances, enjoy this match in the biggest court in the world against the best player in the world”.

The last time Lopez defeated a world number 1 player was in 2010 at the Aegon Championships, where he stunned Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals. Looking at possible ways that he could repeat another sensational upset five years on, the world number 19 said that he has to be ‘very aggressive‘ and ‘play even better‘.

“In order to win I think I just have to be very aggressive and I have to play even better”. The 33-year-old told the media.
“If I’m able to do it, I do not know because the level is going up and up every round. It’s a great opportunity and a great challenge”.

Prior to the US Open Lopez has reached the last eight of a Grand Slam on three previous occasions. His trio of quarter-final appearances happened at Wimbledon in 2005, 2008 and 2011. In 2005 he was the first Spanish man to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon since 1972.

The quarter-final match between Feliciano Lopez and Novak Djokovic will take place on Tuesday.

 

 

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