2020 in Review: Novak Djokovic saves three match points against Gael Monfils

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic reached his sixth Dubai final and the first since 2015, ousting Gael Monfils 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 in two hours and 35 minutes. It was the clash of the players with 16 victories in 2020, and Gael wasted a colossal chance of beating Novak for the first time in 16 official encounters! The Frenchman wasted a 6-3 advantage in the second set tie break and faded from the court after squandering those match points, having nothing to offer in the decider. Novak needed time to find the rhythm against an in-form rival, getting broken three times in sets one and two and fiding himself a set and a break down before making a comeback to reach the tie break where he came from the verge of defeat to stay alive. It was essential for Monfils to make a strong start and challenge Djokovic in the opener. Instead, the Frenchman went even further and left world no. 1 behind, dropping six points after the initial shot and stealing half of the return points to rule the scoreboard and finish the job with two breaks.

They had the same number of winners, with 17 unforced errors from Djokovic's racquet that made all the difference, as he couldn't find the space and endure longer rallies with an in-form rival. Novak saved a break point in the opening game before giving serve away in a marathon game three when his backhand landed long, sending Gael in front and giving him a massive boost. A service winner pushed Monfils 3-1 in front, overpowering Novak from the backhand wing two games later to stay in the lead and keep the pressure on the other side of the net. Struggling to find his usual rhythm, Djokovic suffered another break in game seven following a terrible drop shot, allowing Gael to wrap up the set with a service winner in the next one for 6-2 in 45 minutes. More troubles waited for Novak just around the corner after playing a loose forehand in the second set's third game, losing serve at love and drifting further away from the positive result.

Novak Djokovic saved three match points in Dubai semi-final against Gael Monfils.

Gael closed the fourth game with a forehand crosscourt winner, forging a 6-2, 3-1 advantage in just over an hour. Novak pulled the break back in game six when Gael netted a forehand, leveling the score at 3-3 and gaining momentum. The four-time champion held with an ace to move 4-3 up before Gael did the same for a vital hold and an excellent recovery. Djokovic delivered the third straight comfortable hold to open a 5-4 gap, creating a set point in the next game that he squandered with a loose forehand. Another error from the right wing cost Novak the second set point, with Monfils surviving to level the score at 5-5 with two booming serves. Facing the third set point at 5-6, Gael placed a perfect drop shot winner to deny it, erasing another following a grueling rally to remain in the set. The fifth set point came and gone for Novak after a forehand winner from Monfils, who finally closed the game to set up a tie break.

Gael forced an error from Novak to open a 4-2 gap, staying in front with a backhand down the line winner in the eighth point. A forehand winner gave him three match points, but Novak repelled them to bring the result back to 6-6 and prolong the drama! Monfils saved a set point at 6-7 with a service winner before Djokovic grabbed a mini-break, spraying a forehand mistake in the next point to keep Gael in the set before moving 9-8 up after a well-constructed attack. A double fault from the Frenchman turned to be the last point of the set, with Novak celebrating another miraculous escape ahead of the deciding set, where he was the clear favorite now. The entire world knew what would happen in the final set after that crazy outcome of the second. Djokovic secured breaks in games three and five to race into the lead, crossing the finish line with another return game at 5-1 thanks to a forehand winner to complete a comeback and set Stefanos Tsitsipas title clash. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3nSOJBl