Novak Djokovic beat Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in 1 hour and 38 minutes to reach the quarter final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships ATP 500 tournament for the 12th time.
Djokovic won 83% of his first serve points to improve his record to 5-1 in his six head-to-head matches against Khachanov. The 20-time Grand Slam champion saved three of the four break points he faced to score his fourth consecutive win against Khachanov.
Djokovic did not face a break point in the first set. The five-time Dubai champion held serve at 30 in the third game before converting his second break point to open up a 3-1 lead. He held serve in the fifth game with a forehand winner. Khachanov stayed within within one break point with a hold of 30 in the sixth game, but Djokovic opened up a 5-2 lead with his serve. Khachanov hit a forehand winner to hold serve in the eighth game before Djokovic forced Khachanov’s error to seal the first set in 32 minutes.
Djokovic went up break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and saved three break points to hold serve in the fourth game. Khachanov held serve to love and broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. The Russian player fended off two break points in the ninth game and held serve after three deuces to win his third consecutive game and took a 5-4 lead.
Khachanov held at love in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead. Djokovic served to stay in the set at 5-6 and held serve at love with an ace to set up a tie-break. Djokovic earned four match points at 6-2 with three mini-breaks and converted his first chance to seal the tie-break 7-2.
“I was feeling excited and motivated, but also at the same time I was feeling stressed. Particularly at the moments when I was facing break points, I thought the atmosphere in the stadium was terrific. I missed playing completely. This is life. This is what I have known for the past 20 years. Tennis is my love. I enjoy bringing positive energy and memories for people who watch”, said Djokovic.
Djokovic set up a quarter final against JJiri Vesely, who upset Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 6-4.
Andrey Rublev rallied from one set down to beat Soonwoo Kwon 4-6 6-0 6-2 to reach the third round at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Chammpionships.
Kwon earned his only break in the first game to win the opening set 6-4. Rublev broke three times at deuce to take a bagel win in the second set.
Rublev converted his third break point in the fourth game to seal the third set 6-2. The Russian player hit 15 aces and won 93% of his first serve points.
Rublev set up a quarter final against Mackenzie McDonald, who beat Filip Krajinovic 6-4 7-6 (9-7).
