ATP Madrid: Novak Djokovic extend dominance over French players to reach QF
World no. 1 and two-time Madrid champion Novak Djokovic is through to his 79th Masters 1000 quarter-final after a 6-1, 7-6 triumph over Jeremy Chardy in an hour and 25 minutes. This was the 13th victory for the Serb over the French rival and the 63rd in the last 65 encounters against the players from this country, extending his dominance and moving into the last eight for the fourth time in 2019. Djokovic had to work hard in set number two to earn the 339th Masters 1000 win, saving a set point at 4-5 and sailing through the tie break to stay on the title chase against the opponent who never stood a chance once he wasted that set point.
Defending both the first and second serve nicely, Djokovic lost 15 points behind the initial shot, fending off all four break points he faced to mount the pressure on Jeremy who recovered his strokes after losing the opening set, competing on a high level in set number two before the tie break when Novak took charge to bring the encounter home. The Serb had 19 winners and 17 unforced errors while Chardy counted to a 20-25 ratio, staying in touch with the better-ranked opponent in the more extended exchanges but losing the ground in those up to eight shots where Novak forged his victory.
Djokovic drew first blood with a break in game two after a loose forehand from Chardy, opening a 4-0 advantage after a double fault from the Frenchman and saving three break points in the next game to keep the rival out from the scoreboard. Serving for the opener at 5-1, Novak held at 30 after a backhand mistake from Jeremy who had to raise his level in the rest of the match to stand any chance for the first success against Djokovic. As we already said, he did that in style in set number two, sailing through his service games and using the fact that Novak played at a little bit slower pace, passive at some points and without the energy that carried him in the opener.
The Serb saved a set point at 4-5 with a service winner, reaching the tie break that was always on his racquet, delivering three mini-breaks and moving over the top with a forehand winner at 6-2 to book the place in the last eight.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/3099bST
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