ATP Dubai: Philipp Kohlschreiber before duel with Novak Djokovic - "These are the moments you are working towards"
Philipp Kohlschreiber is looking forward to the greatest possible challenge in the second round of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai: Augsburg will face Novak Djokovic, who is unbeaten this year.
by Jörg Allmeroth from Dubai
last edit: Feb 24, 2020, 05:45 pm
Philipp Kohlschreiber shook and staggered, but he didn't fall. And after his somewhat tedious 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 0 opening win over the Egyptian Mohamed Safwat at the ATP 500 spectacle in Dubai, the 36-year-old veteran now has a highly familiar and tingling second-round appointment - with none other than the lonely world number one Novak Djokovic. “Of course, these are always the moments you work towards in training. The matches that have a special kick, ”Kohlschreiber said in Dubai to“ tennisnet.com ”.
As expected, Djokovic had solved his first task against the Tunisian Malik Jaziri on Monday evening on the center court and had kept his clean slate this season in 6-2, 6-1 in exactly one hour - it was the 14th victory in the 14th Match of the year 2020, including successes in the ATP Cup and the Australian Open. “It looks like I trained well before the season,” said the 32-year-old Belgrade with a wink after winning Jaziri, “I think the secret of success is very simple: you have to tackle every game with the necessary seriousness and always work seriously. "
"It takes a cream day"
There are no secrets on the square between Kohlschreiber and Djokovic. On Wednesday the seasoned Bavarian and the world number one will face each other for the 14th time, the two met four times last season alone. At the time, Kohlschreiber sensationally won the first comparison at the “fifth slam” in Indian Wells, in the California desert. “Everyone in the tennis circuit knows what Philipp is capable of. He often plays exceptionally well on a big stage against a big opponent, "said Djokovic," it will be a tough, tough fight. "
Kohlschreiber is currently only in 80th place in the world rankings, but numbers can also be smoke and mirrors in this business, the 36-year-old Davis Cup player has often proven it against nominally higher-ranked competition. The third win against Djokovic is well worth it, says Kohlschreiber, “it just has to go together. It takes a cream day. ”Just like almost eleven years ago, when he beat Djokovic smoothly with 6: 4, 6: 4 and 6: 4 in three sets at the French Open.