Novak Djokovic fends off three match balls and beats Gael Monfils
Novak Djokovic dramatically reached the final of the Dubai ATP 500 tournament on Friday evening. The first in the world rankings prevailed after two hours and 33 minutes against Gael Monfils and won 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-1.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 28, 2020, 07:31 pm
On the way to match success, Djokovic fended off three match balls in the tie-break of the second set. He was already 3-6, but then benefited from three minor mistakes made by Monfils in a row. The Frenchman appeared visibly weakened in the third set and then made little resistance.
"He obviously had an injury that did not allow him to play his best tennis. If he continues to play like this, he will be one of the best this year," Djokovic said after the match to Rosen. "He was the better player over two sets but I found a way out. I'm very happy about it."
Earlier in the second set, Monfils was 6: 2 and 3: 1 in the lead before Djokovic equalized to 3: 3. Monfils, on the other hand, fended off a total of five set balls at the 4: 5 and 5: 6 standings and saved himself in a tie-break in which he should hand the game over.
In the first set, he pulled the tooth of the currently best tennis player in the world with a variable and fast game. He dominated from the baseline and acted punchily especially on the return. The number nine in the ATP ranking could not call up the level across the entire match.
For Djokovic it is the sixth final in Dubai, he is now at the tournament in the United Arab Emirates with a match record of 40-6. It was his 20th match win in a row and he achieved this for the seventh time in his career.
Djokovic had competed against Monfils 17 times so far, the Serb won every single duel of the two. A series of twelve Siegenam pieces comes to an end for Monfils.
Djokovic meets Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final on Saturday, who defeated Dan Evans in two sets .