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Novak Djokovic into Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals after navigating Hubert Hurkacz test
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Published 02/03/2023 at 18:27 GMT
Novak Djokovic remains on course for his sixth Dubai Tennis Championships title after beating Hubert Hurkacz to move into the semi-finals. The Serb came through in straight sets against Hurkacz who looked impressive for long spells against the 22-time Grand Slam winner. However, the day belonged to Djokovic who secured a 6-3 7-5 win. He will face Daniil Medvedev next.
Image credit: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a hard-fought straight-sets win over a spirited Hubert Hurkacz.
The Polish star virtually matched the 22-time Grand Slam winner throughout but was left to rue a single service game in each set as he lost 6-3 7-5.
Djokovic smelt blood early on and went 3-1 up in the first after converting the third of three break points when his opponent put too much on a forehand to go long.
Undaunted, Hurkacz refused to buckle again on his serve and forced the world No. 1 to serve for the set.
With two set points, an uncharacteristic double fault on the first was followed up with a powerful ace to win the first set in just 36 minutes.
Hurkacz, coming off the back of victory in the Open 13 Provence final the previous week, went on the attack in the second, matching Djokovic blow-for-blow with both men powering through their service games.
In fact, when all was said and done, Hurkacz finished with 21 winners to Djokovic’s 20 and also finished with seven aces to his opponent’s four.
It was Hurkacz who would blink first at 5-5, however. The 26-year-old saved four break points but was undone on the fifth handing Djokovic the opportunity to serve for the match.
Djokovic kept up his high-quality serving to hold to love for victory.
The Serb remains unbeaten in fifteen matches in 2023 as he eyes his sixth title in Dubai.
He will face Daniil Medvedev next after the Russian beat Borna Coric 6-3 6-2 in a one-sided affair that culminated in Medvedev winning the last 21 points on offer.
"To win 21 points in a row, I don’t know if that’s my personal record on the ATP Tour," Medvedev said.
"I managed to hit some lines, I managed to play good. Borna was missing a little bit, but [I am] generally happy with my level, I’m happy with the ending of the match for sure."
Alexander Zverev was the first player to book his place in the final four after overcoming Italian Lorenzo Sonego 7-5 6-4.
The German faced six break points in the match but saved them all – including battling back from 0-40 down while serving for the match.
Zverev will compete in his first semi-final since suffering an ankle injury at last year’s French Open and goes up against Andrey Rublev.
Defending champion Rublev beat Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets but needed a tie-break in the second to eventually come through 6-3 7-6(3).
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