Atp Dubai, Djokovic loses game (with Vesely) and # 1: Medvedev new king

Jiri Vesely’s feat: number 123 in the world – virtually 96 – beats Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Dubai and delivers a new number 1 to the circuit, from now on Daniil Medvedev. The Czech plays a perfect match, liquidates Nole in two sets (6-4 7-6) and continues his incredible path in the tournament: the former number 35 of the ATP ranking had started from the qualifications and in the two previous rounds he had eliminated Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista Agut, seeded number 8 on the scoreboard. For Vesely this is the second career victory in as many challenges against Djokovic, after the one on the land of Monte Carlo in 2016: even then the Serbian was number 1 in the world.

Black beast

–

“Djokovic is one of the greatest ever, he’s a fantastic feeling – Vesely’s words at the end of the game -. I can’t express all the emotions I have inside: I did a great job, I tried to shorten the exchanges. Did I do Medvedev a favor? I didn’t want to ruin my balance against Djokovic… ”. A great test that of Vesely: with his left-handed forehand he put the Serbian in difficulty and always tried to attack the opponent, looking for various solutions such as short balls and net play (not always perfect).

The match

–

In the first set Djokovic suffers Vesely’s aggression especially on the second serve: the Czech starts immediately with the break – in the first game of the mach -, suffers the return of the Serbian and closes at 6-4 after having snatched the serve again. opponent in the seventh game. Also in the second set Vesely takes a break in the seventh game, with an extraordinary point won with the backhand after a profound response. The Czech is confident, in the next game he even plays a shot under the legs and saves an immediate ball from the counter-break. It seems done, but on the 5-4 and service for Vesely the concrete Djokovic returns in the important moments: break and tie-break, with on 5-5 a chance not exploited by the Czech on 30-40. In the tie-break a double foul by Djokovic at 4-3 is decisive, immediately after recovering the mini-break from a disadvantage.