Erste Bank Open: Four set balls blocked! Nervous Novak Djokovic beats Borna Coric
Novak Djokovic also mastered the second hurdle at the Erste Bank Open. The world number one defeated Borna Coric 7: 6 (11) and 6: 3 and once again proved his nerve strength.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 28, 2020, 08:08 pm
By Michael Rothschädl from the Wiener Stadthalle
A small but fine Serbian delegation went to the Wiener Stadthalle on Wednesday evening to watch their national hero Novak Djokovic at work. The first in the world rankings could use the support from the ranks, with Borna Coric waiting for a player who has presented himself in great shape in the last few weeks, especially on hard courts. The Croatian should also prove this in the early stages of this match. Coric started with a strong serve, remained patient in the rallies and put his strong forehand in scene at the right moment. But Novak Djokovic also presented himself well in his service games, so there were no break chances until the ninth game of the first set.
Djokovic again with strong nerves
But then Novak Djokovic sprinkled one or the other mistake too much, Coric found two break chances. The world number one from Serbia was able to thwart both of these. The Serbian managed the same feat in his next service game when he was able to fend off a break chance after a long baseline duel. Since Borna Coric could rely on a partly great service performance in this opening sentence, a tie-break had to bring the decision. This should develop into a mad battle of nerves - Borna Coric found four set balls, Djokovic was able to fend off all of them with some great balls. And so it was, as is so often the case, the Serbian who showed his better nerve in these tight moments and secured the first round with his third set ball.
The following minutes were almost a copy of Novak Djokovic's first appearance in the Wiener Stadthalle. Again, the Serb was able to take the momentum of the narrowly won set with him, again he was able to increase the pressure on his opponent quite early in a service game, and again this should be rewarded with the break a little later. The 33-year-old shouldn't let that go, Djokovic even had two chances to add another break. Although the Serb forgave this, he remained sovereign with his own serve and was able to play three more break and match balls at a score of 3: 5, of which he was able to convert the latter after a little more than two hours.
Djokovic draws level with Sampras
"It was a very close match, it was very challenging," said Djokovic of his success. "He served very well, the tie-break decided the match, as it did yesterday. He had a feasible pass ball when the score was 6: 5. I tried to stay focused and see my game through." And then there were also a few words of thanks in his mother tongue to the Serbian fans. Who honored this with renewed loud cheers.
Novak Djokovic has set another record. Since Rafael Nadal will not start at the ATP 250 event in Sofia, the Serb now officially ends the year in first place in the world rankings. And since he is doing this for the sixth time in his career, he draws this comparison with Pete Sampras, who could hold this record lonely for a long time. But since Djokovic's big goal is to reach the top of the ATP charts for most of the weeks, the Serb plans to play a comfortable cushion on his pursuers in Vienna. The next opponent on this mission is either Hubert Hurkacz or Lorenzo Sonego and is probably a far more grateful one than he was today.