On this day: Novak Djokovic downs Canas for first Masters 1000 crown
After he cracked the top-20 in 2006 as a teenager, Novak Djokovic was eager for more in the upcoming season when he became the third strongest link in men's tennis behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Novak kicked off the 2007 campaign with a title in Adelaide before losing to Federer at the Australian Open and Dubai, heading to Indian Wells where he scored five dominant wins before Rafael Nadal halted him in the title match. With those 350 points, Novak secured the place in the top-10 for the first time before Miami and went all the way in Florida to lift the maiden Masters 1000 crown, standing as the last teenager with a trophy at this level!
Djokovic defeated Daniele Bracciali with a single break in round two and had a few great days at the office after that, toppling Michael Llodra, Feliciano Lopez, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, dropping serve only once in five matches to book the place in the final against Guillermo Canas. On April 1, the Serb toppled the Argentinian 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes, dominating in all the segments to control the scoreboard all the time and claim the biggest title of his young career, two months before turning 20! Novak saved all five break points he faced and Guillermo was far from that pace, serving at only 54% and losing 42% of the points in his games to suffer four breaks from seven opportunities he gave to a teenager.
Djokovic had the upper hand in the shortest and the most extended rallies, with his groundstrokes proving to be too much to handle for Canas who was pleased with his campaign in the last four weeks despite this loss. Novak kicked off the match with a smash winner and a hold at love, which is always important, saving a break point in game three to stay on the positive side of the scoreboard. A backhand down the line in the following game earned a break at love for the Serb who cemented the lead with an ace in game five to forge a 4-1 lead. Serving for the set at 5-3, Novak held at 15 after a forehand error from Canas to grab the opener 6-3, looking for more of the same in the rest of the encounter.
After four good holds at the start of the second set, Novak blasted a forehand down the line to force an error from his opponent and fended off three break points in the following game that lasted for a grueling 20 minutes. It took all the energy from Canas and Novak broke him at love with a backhand down the line winner to move 5-2 up, saving a break point in game eight to take two sets to love lead and make a massive step towards the title. Guillermo survived multiple break points at the start of the third set and despite a left thigh troubles he stayed in touch with Novak until 4-4 when he hit a double fault to give Djokovic the pivotal advantage.
Serving for the title in game ten, Novak landed a forehand down the line winner to celebrate the title and begin his stellar Masters 1000 journey that currently stands on 32 trophies and many records in the premium ATP series.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2WGqk4a
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