Novak Djokovic beat Bernard Tomic 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to reach the semifinals at the Rolex Master in Shanghai. With this win the Serbian star extended his winning streak to 15 consecutive matches. He had won 16 consecutive sets before today’s match but Tomic provided him a tough challenge when he recovered from 2-4 down in the first set to force Djokovic to the tie-break.
Djokovic struggled in the first set against Tomic who played well in the longer rallies but the Serb won the key points in the most decisive moments of the match.
Tomic, who reached his second quarter final in a Master 1000 after this year’s Indian Wells, started well in the first game where he forced Djokovic to deuce but the World Number 1 held his serve. Tomic saved a break point but Djokovic broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Tomic hit a forehand winner at 15-30 before breaking back. Tomic saved a break point in the 10th game (the longest of the match) to draw level to 5-5.
The first set came down to the tie-break. Both players went on serve on the first six points in the tie-break which was marked by many winners and spectacular rallies. Tomic fended off the second set point at 4-6 in the tie-break with a tunning backhand return winner but Djokovic converted the third opportunity at 7-6 as the Australian player hit his backhand into the net.
Djokovic raced to 5-1 in the second set before sealing the win on his fourth match point after one hour and 27 minutes. Djokovic will face the winner of the quarter final between Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych.
Djokovic is bidding to win his ninth title of the season and score his third Beijing-Shanghai double after 2012 and 2013. If he wins in Shanghai and Paris Bercy Djokovic will have the chance to improve the record of Master 1000 titles in one season. Djokovic and Nadal are currently leading this special ranking of Master 1000 wins in the same season with five titles apiece (Nadal won Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Canada and Cincinnati in 2013, while Djokovic won Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome and Canada in 2011). This year Djokovic lifted four trophies in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Rome this year.
Tomic confirmed his good period form in this tournament in which he reached his second career Master 1000 quarter final. Last March he reached the Best-of eight stage at Indian Wells. He will improve his best ranking next week moving up to World Number 18.
“It was a very good first set. High quality tennis from both of us. Especially Bernard played some smart tennis, stepping in every shorter ball, serving very accurately. He pushed me. It went down to a couple points to decide the first set in the tie-break”, said Djokovic
