Novak Djokovic praises Marton Fucsovics after tough win in Doha
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic admitted it wasn't an easy day at the office for him on Wednesday and praised his Hungarian opponent Marton Fucsovics.
The first-seeded Serb came from a set down to beat world No. 36 Fucsovics 4-6 6-4 6-1 and reach the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarter-final.
Djokovic saved two consecutive break points in the ninth game of the first set but the Hungarian converted his third break point to take a 5-4 first-set lead.
Fucsovics then had no problems closing out the set as he served out to love the 10th game to take the opener.
Fucsovics, 26, didn't face a break point until the 10th game of the second set when Djokovic converted his second break point of the game -- which at the same time was the Serb's second set point -- to force a decider.
The Hungarian's game then fell apart as Djokovic got off to a comfortable 4-0 third-set lead.
Fucsovics got one break back in the fifth game to reduce the deficit to 4-1 but the world No. 1 then won the following two games to avoid any drama and seal the win.
"For the first two sets he was a better player. He played really well, smart, changing up the rhythm and the pace of the ball and moving me around. I was kind of in a corner and I had to find my way and fight my way through," Djokovic said post-match, per George Bellshaw.
Djokovic will fight against Nikoloz Basilashvili for a place in the Doha semi-final.
Also read: Injury forces Rafael Nadal to withdraw from Brisbane International
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2R7o2MM
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