Help
© Tennistalk.com
|
|
© Tennistalk.com
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
8/20/11 4:00 AM | Cheryl Murray
In one of the more exciting matches of the week so far, Novak Djokovic edged out Frenchman Gael Monfils to advance to the semifinals.
Novak Djokovic came out in the first set of this match making poor shot decisions, donating unforced errors and looking mentally unprepared. It was a big difference from the Djokovic who treated Gael Monfils to a flat-out drubbing in Montreal a week ago.
Monfils was able to take advantage of poor serving from the Serb to get the break. Usually Djokovic's return game is so good that a service break means little...but even his return was amiss in the opening set. To give Monfils credit, however, the Frenchman played a spectacular set of tennis to snag the lead.
Djokovic appeared to be back to his old self with a break of Monfils's serve in the second set, but the Frenchman continued to show his mettle and earned the break back again. A tactical error on the part of Monfils at 4-4 resulted in another Djokovic break. Monfils slipped into his usual retrievers role and he allowed Djokovic to get his teeth into another service game and the Serb got a second break.
A scary moment ushered in the third set. Monfils had trouble breathing, beyond the normal winding a long point usually produces. There seemed to be fear on the part of the Frenchman that he would have to retire. He did eventually get his breath back and even managed a rough hold for 2-1, though he was still down a break.
Monfils kept fighting, but at 3-5, Djokovic poured on the pressure and snagged the last break of the match to move into the semifinals.
Djokovic will take on Tomas Berdych on Saturday.
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
Novak Djokovic 
Monfils has enough energy for one set only. If he wanted to recover from obvious lack of oxygen, he shouldn't have that endless monologue during third set, instead to shut up, and breathe...
vjakov , 8/20/11 6:39 PM