TENNIS – Novak Djokovic, Rogers Cup Champion in 2007, 2011 and 2012, cruised to a 6-2 6-1 win over last week’s Washington quarter finalist Jack Sock in just 54 minutes to qualify for the quarter finals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal: Djokovic converted on four of his six break point chances and dropped just 10 points. Diego Sampaolo.
Djokovic broke serve at 3-2 when Sock hit a ball long on the break point. The World Number 1 player, who is playing his first tournament since his third triumph at Wimbledon, got a double break in the final game to clinch the opening set.
Djokovic broke serve again for 3-1 as Sock made an unforced error. Nole produced a beautiful drop-shot at the start of the final game before converting his third match point as Sock sent his return long.
The Serbian star clinched the 50th win in 53 matches this year.
Djokovic will face Ernests Gulbis who defeated Donald Young 6-4 6-4.
“I never played him before, so it took him some time to figure out what his patterns are. I have watches him many times before but it’s different standing on the court.
Rafa Nadal, winner at the Rogers Cup in 2013, defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-3. Nadal got the double break on his third break point as Youzhny hit a forehand long to seal the first set. Youzhny fended off with a forehand winner down the line at 3-4 in the second set, before Nadal converted his third break point chance as Youzhny hit a backhand wide. Nadal served out for the match as Youzhny sent his backhand into the net.
Nadal will face Kei Nishikori who prevailed over David Goffin with 6-4 6-4.
Andy Murray converted on four of his six break points in his 6-3 6-2 win over Gilles Muller. The Dunblane star faced the only trouble in the opening game when he had to fend off four break points but then he cruised to an unchallenged win.
Murray will face a quarter-final against Jo Wilfred Tsonga who beat Bernard Tomic 7-6 (9-7) 6-3. Tsonga hit 17 aces and converted on two of his six break points.
The Frenchman beat Murray last year in the quarter-finals of this tournament
Murray won his 50th match of his season. He is bidding to win the Rogers Cup for the third time after 2009 and 2010.
“I thought I played a good match and I returned well. The first game was important. I served a few break points there. That settled the nerves a little bit. I felt like I got a good read on his serve. I was able to neutralize his serve, which is his biggest weapon. That was the key to the match”, said Murray
Andy Murray and his doubles partner Leander Paes lost the doubles match against Andy’s brother Jamie Murray and John Peers with 6-4 7-6 (11-9). Jamie Murray and John Peers will face Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals.
John Isner did not face a single break point in his 7-5 6-3 win over John Isner setting up a quarter final against Jeremy Chardy who fought back from a set down to overcome “Mr. Ace” Ivo Karlovic with 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 qualifying for the fourth time for a Master 1000 quarter final.
Chardy committed three double faults to drop his serve at the start of the first set. Karlovic closed out the first set with 6-4 with a service winner. At 6-5 in the second set Chardy earned two set points but Karlovic saved them with two aces. In the tiebreak Karlovic went down two mini-breaks after hitting a backhand volley into the net and committing a double fault. Chardy cruised to 7-1 in the tiebreak. In the third set Karlovic went down a break at 2-4. The Croatian giant bounced back saving a match point before breaking back but Chardy closed out with 6-4 in the next game.
Karlovic has reached the milestone 10004 ace record during his 7-6 7-6 win over Milos Raonic. Karlovic is the second player in history to hit more than 10000 behind his compatriot Goran Ivanisevic who hit 10183 aces in his career
