ATP Dubai: Semifinals! Djokovic too strong for Hurkacz too
Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinals of the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai. The 6:3 and 7:5 against Hubert Hurkacz was the 15th victory of the world number one this season.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Mar 02, 2023, 06:07 pm
It currently has the impression that two things have to come together for Novak Djokovic to lose a match: on the one hand, the Serb doesn't have to have a good day himself. Just like at the start in Dubai against Tomas Machac. And the respective opponent has to a) surpass himself (Machac managed that) and b) hold out at this level to the end (this is where the Czech failed). Sebastian Korda was close in Adelaide earlier this year. Nobody else.
Neither did Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals in Dubai. He had lost all previous games against Novak Djokovic and the recent encounter was no exception. Because Hurkacz had to risk too much to have a small chance. And because Novak Djokovic found his groove. Hurkacz didn't do anything wrong, especially in the second set - just defending against four breakballs at a score of 5: 5 was worth all the honor. But even then, the inclined observer never had the impression that Djokovic could slip away from the game.
Rune Last Conqueror by Djokovic
So who should beat the world number one who won the first 15 matches of the season? Daniil Medvedev has the potential, the Russian is currently riding an impressive winning streak. But first he has to prevail against Borna Coric. And yes: Under normal circumstances, Alexander Zverev, who could only meet Djokovic in the final, should also calculate his chances. The German number one has not yet reached its best form.
By the way, the last player to defeat Djokovic in a serious tennis match is Holger Rune. And in that final in Paris-Bercy in autumn 2022, Djokovic just didn't have his best day. And rune played the stars from the sky.