Djokovic Gets to Know a Falcon in Dubai (Reuters).
After last week’s security tightrope handling Shahar Peer’s semifinal run, the Dubai event for the men this week has turned into something of a bust with more top players losing early.
Janko Tipsarevic stunned Andy Murray in a two-and-a-half-hour battle that saw the Serb win the first set tiebreak on an ace that was called out then overruled by the umpire. Murray won the second set but Tipsarevic held his ground in the third jumping out to to a 4-1 lead. Murray dug deep and managed to get things back on serve at 4-5.
But like he had done all match long, Tipsarevic stayed with Murray in the long rallies and managed to get a match point on Murray’s serve which he converted. He’s now 3-3 lifetime against the Scot but this is definitely the biggest win he’s had in awhile.
Nikolay Davydenko retired in his match to Michael Berrer after Berrer won the first set 6-3. Davydenko cited a continuing wrist injury he suffered in Rotterdam. Ivan Ljubicic upended Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-5 leaving only three seeds left in the draw.
With all the injuries and dropouts, you still have to like either Novak Djokovic, even though he did struggle in his win over friend Victor Trocki 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 or Marin Cilic who saved three set points against Stefan Koubek before winning 6-2, 7-6(6).Cilic is now 17-1 for the year.
Djokovic did get to hang out with his unofficial mascot during the player’s party the other night. Could it be a sign that the “Falcon” will be the one left standing on Sunday?
No related posts.
{ 2 comments }
It has to be Djokovic’s tournament to lose at this point. But I guess you can’t really count out Baghdatis at this point, either.
I agree it could be Djokovic’s to lose but you can’t count out Youzhny either who always makes you beat him. I’ll try and do another update tomorrow.
Comments on this entry are closed.