Novak Djokovic helps Serbia secure spot in the quarter final at the ATP Cup - UBITENNIS

Novak Djokovic helps Serbia secure spot in the quarter final at the ATP Cup

By sampaolo
3 Min Read

Last year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won both his singles match against Gael Monfils and the decisive doubles match with his teammate Viktor Troicki against Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger Vasselin to give Serbia a 2-1 win over France in Sydney. With this win Serbia has remained unbeaten in the round robin Group and secured its spot in the quarter final.

Earlier today Benoit Paire battled past Dusan Lajovic 6-2 6-7 6-4 in a hard-fought match to give France a 1-0 lead. Paire built up a 6-2 5-3 lead in the second set. Lajovic got the break back in the tenth game and saved two match points in the tie-break before winning it 8-6. Paire won five service games and broke Lajovic at 5-4 to seal the win.

Novak Djokovic beat Gael Monfils 6-3 6-2 after 1 hour and 32 minutes scoring his 16th win over his French rival forcing the tie to the decisive doubles match. Djokovic broke three times and saved all three break point chances.

Djokovic converted his first break point in the sixth game to open up a 4-2 lead and closed out the opening set 6-3 after saving two break points in the ninth game. The Serbian star earned two consecutive breaks in the third and fifth games and closed out the second set in the eighth game with a forehand winner.

Djokovic and Viktor Troicki secured the 2-1 tie win with a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 10-3 win over Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger Vasselin. The Serbian team saved a break point at 5-3 and earned a break at 5-3. The French team fended off four break points, as they were serving at 4-4 in the second set. Roger Vasselin and Mahut earned a mini-break to clinch the tie-break 7-5 forcing the tie to the Match Tie-Break. Djokovic and Troicki reeled off nine consecutive points from 1-3 down to clinch the win.

“I really showed my emotion because I really care about playing for Serbia, but I also care about being on the team with my friends. These guys are some of my best friends in my life and I gre up with Viktor. We played so many doubles matches in junior days”, said Djokovic.

 

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