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Novak Djokovic powers past Tallon Griekspoor to reach Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals
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Published 01/03/2023 at 17:47 GMT
Novak Djokovic was given a tough test in his opening match at the Dubai Tennis Championships but had an easier time against Tallon Griekspoor as he reached the quarter-finals. Djokovic fired down four love holds and broke serve four times as he advanced to the last eight. Djokovic will next face either Hubert Hurkacz, while Daniil Medvedev won against Alexander Bublik.
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Video credit: SNTV
Novak Djokovic eased into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with victory over Tallon Griekspoor.
Having been pushed to a final-set tie-break in his opening match in Dubai, Djokovic secured a more routine win over world No. 39 Griekspoor as he won 6-2 6-3.
World No. 1 Djokovic will next face fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz as he bids to continue his unbeaten start to the year.
Djokovic has already won two titles in 2023 – the Adelaide International and Australian Open – and a third in Dubai would extend his lead at the top of the rankings over world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.
It is still not known if Djokovic will play Indian Wells and the Miami Open next month due to US entry rules.
Djokovic looked in the groove from the start against Griekspoor as he won 12 of the first 14 points, breaking for 2-0 with a fine passing winner.
The world No. 1 dropped just one point in his opening three service games and closed out the set with another break.
Djokovic continued to look imperious at the start of the second set, firing down back-to-back love holds either side of a break of serve.
Griekspoor clung on in a lengthy fourth game, fending off five break points before Djokovic eventually broke to move 4-0 ahead.
The world No. 1 followed up with a quick hold but couldn’t close out a bagel set as Griekspoor won two games in a row.
Hurkacz beat Pavel Kotov 7-5 6-1 while Daniil Medvedev made it 11 straight wins as he beat Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-2.
Medvedev, who could face Djokovic in the semi-finals, sealed the win with an underarm serve.
Borna Coric recovered from dropping the first set to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(4) 6-3 7-5 while Lorenzo Sonego took out fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(4) 6-4.
Andrey Rublev pulled off one of the comebacks of the season as he saved five match points to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 1-6 7-6(6) 7-6(3).
Rublev was down 6-1 in the second-set tie-break but won seven points in a row and the third set as he claimed a remarkable victory.
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