Novak Djokovic continues serene progress in Beijing - UBITENNIS

Novak Djokovic continues serene progress in Beijing

By Alex Burton
4 Min Read
(FOCUS)(SP)CHINA-BEIJING-TENNIS-CHINA OPEN-MEN'S SINGLES
Djokovic eases into final in Beijing

Novak Djokovic continued his perfect run in Beijing, defeating David Ferrer for the tenth consecutive time in a 6-2, 6-3 win.

Ferrer held the opening game, but was in trouble in the second, as the returns from Djokovic kept landing right on the baseline. Ferrer saved the first of two break points with an ace, but Djokovic quickly took control of the point in the second, Ferrer missing a backhand up the line to hand the World No.1 the early break.

Djokovic quickly held serve, and his sheer, superior consistency, quickly had the World No.8 in trouble again. Ferrer again faced break point, and succumbed to a double fault, the double break now belonging to Djokovic. He wobbled in the next game, going down love-thirty after netting a forehand, and a poor drop-shot that Ferrer chased down. Another forehand miss handed the Spaniard two break points. Ferrer attacked a second serve, and was rewarded as Djokovic could only reply with a backhand in the net. One of the breaks had been recovered. Djokovic broke again, but encountered issues when serving for the set, the forehand playing wide, and Ferrer again had two break points. Djokovic saved them both, one drawing Ferrer to net with a drop-shot, a play that Djokovic had used effectively against Isner. Djokovic then reasserted control and took the opening set in his quest for a sixth Beijing final.

A Ferrer double fault gave Djokovic a sniff of a chance in game one of the second set at thirty-all. An ace and a Djokovic error saw Ferrer hold. A stunning point at fifteen-all in Djokovic’s game saw Djokovic win an extended rally of more than twenty shots by playing a drop shot, then lob Ferrer, who gamely charged after everything, a short volley finally beating him.

Ferrer, like Zhang and Isner before him, started to become more desperate, double faulting again,for fifteen-thirty, Djokovic missed long by a fraction on the next point, before a beautifully crafted Ferrer point seemingly had him out of trouble at forty -thirty. He framed a forehand though, and a Djokovic winner brought up break point. Ferrer missed with an ambitious backhand up the line and Djokovic led in the second set.

Djokovic held, and then built love-forty against Ferrer, as he again threatened to break yet again. Break he did, Ferrer pushing long with a forehand, and Djokovic would serve for the match after the change of ends. Ferrer had love-thirty but Djokovic created a match point, only to double fault. A forehand that tickled the tape wide from Djokovic gave Ferrer and break point, but Djokovic soaked up pressure, and saved with a wonderful short angle forehand. A double fault and a missed forehand saw Ferrer claw his way back into the set.

Djokovic atoned for the loss of serve, breaking Ferrer in the next game to secure the win.

Unsurprisingly, the World No.1 is now in the final of Beijing yet again, where he will face Rafael Nadal for the just the third time this calendar year. Nadal had earned revenger for his US Open defeat to Fabio Fognini , defeating the Italian 7-5, 6-3.  It will be their first meeting since Djokovic ousted Nadal at Roland Garros. Nadal leads the head-to-head 23-21.

Leave a comment