Djokovic Ahead Before Desert Rain Halts Dubai Final; Gulbis a Game From First Final

by Sean Randall | February 27th, 2010, 4:53 pm
  • 32 Comments

Talk about a tough week in Dubai! First the tennis tournament loses its top players like Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro. Then the seeds start dropping highlighter by Andy Murray’s controversial if not half-hearted effort. Now, the final gets delayed mid-match because of rain. Rain in the Dubai? Isn’t it a desert? ADHEREL

Not to make light of it – I know it rains in Dubai – but crazy how the tournaments gets precipitation during the finale. As I said, the event must feel snakebit! And in that now-postponed final Novak Djokovic was in complete command of Mikhail Youhzny up 7-5, 2-0, and I expect the Serb to finish the job of defending his title come tomorrow when the match resumes.

Dubai (and on a far, far, far larger scale, Chile which hosts Davis Cup next weekend vs. Israel) wasn’t the only place feeling the wrath of Mother Nature. Delray Beach also was hit by rain. Ernests Gulbis actually was leading Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 5-4 in the semifinals when the skies opened up. According to the ATP they are expecting a few more hours of rain before clearing.


After failing to reach a semifinal in 65 straight tournaments, Gulbis has now advanced to two straight after Memphis last week. Mardy Fish and Ivo Karlovic will play the second semifinal later tonight.

In the Acapulco final later today it’s the second straight week David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero will meet in a final. Ferrero has won 14 straight matches including back-to-back titles in Brazil and Buenos Aires the last two weeks. That match begins at 9pm local or 10pm ET.


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32 Comments for Djokovic Ahead Before Desert Rain Halts Dubai Final; Gulbis a Game From First Final

jane Says:

Thanks for the update Sean, and best wishes to those in Chile. : (


Sean Randall Says:

Quick update, Gulbis wins 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first career ATP final.


jane Says:

contador – Ernie is in the final – woot! I wonder who he’ll face: Fish or Dr. Ivo?


contador Says:

yeah, Jane. as i just typed on that other thread. my bad.

i forgot Dr Ivo has yet to play Fish.

must of dreamt ivo ate caught a fish and served him up last night.

mardy has a decent chance and is a contender in del ray.


contador Says:

so much for lowered expectations , Jane. maybe , just maybe if he wins this tourny in del ray, he’ll be inspired to work harder.

anyone have a link to a post match interview? that would be cool,


Kimmi Says:

OK, I was on the other thread let me move my post here

_______

Contador – Congrats. he did it. Did not watch the end..I went away for a bit so don’t know. Wow! first final is great, even if he does not win it..he did one better than memphis and little steps for him, one step at a time.

He is definetly a top 20, even higher player..this looks to be a good year alread.

Congrats again to you.


Kimmi Says:

Jaaane! GOLD for the curlers! WOOT! 13


jane Says:

Kimmi! I hope 13 is lucky and we break the record with 14 golds. But if not, 13 ties it. Woot!

See you tomorrow; keep fingers crossed for Novak…


OllyK Says:

Here we go again!! Almost empty stands..well, it was expected, everybody is at work! :( all in all, very strange final! Ajdee, Noleee!


OllyK Says:

I can’t believe that Youzhny managed to break Nole TWICE already! Come on Nole, don’t let him take 2nd set!


OllyK Says:

HE MADE IT!!!!!!! duro, sar, jane, contador…CONGRATS!!! Finally! Nolee, Noleee, Noleeee!


Duro Says:

It was a delivery more than a tennis victory…


OllyK Says:

I know, duro, but..win is a win! And, he really needs to fix that damn service!!! :O 2nd service (and lots of double faults) is not going to bring him any good…


Duro Says:

OllyK, very important and significant success for Novak. He fought back the curses of not defended titles and back-to-back ones and won. Now, only the sky’s his limit. In Novak we trust!


Duro Says:

As far as his serve is concerned, he’ll fix it eventually, sooner or later. Lesser and lesser demons in his head…


krishnan.t.s. Says:

Sorry….. i read the first line of this blog…. i must say that murray’s was neither contraversial nor half hearted…. he just played the way he always plays like… A LOSER


Duro Says:

Three big things Novak achieved in last couple of months that he wasn’t able to do for last couple of years: won back-to-back title, finally crossed the number 2 line and he defended a title. Here what our star says: “Today was another good example of how much I believe in myself and how much I fight till the end.” The fourth big victory.


Kimmi Says:

congrants to djoko fans. did not see the match and the results shows youzny came back in the second..crazy hey..looks like he has to do another fight to win it. and thats what is needed…winning ugly they say!


madmax Says:

Duro! my dear! you must be on cloud 9! Am so happy for you and for Jane, of course and all novak fans! Ollyk, am glad you are here too!

Novak is a star.I am very pleased that he has won, it got a bit edgy at times didnt it? and like you say ollyk, a win is a win! Youzhny should also be very proud of his play too. I wonder how many ranking points he gets, he’ll be moving up the rankings too –

cheers tennis fans!

contador and kimmi, i suppose you are both watching gulbis later? – should be fun. and then we have to wait 2 weeks until the charity event with sampras/fed and agassi/rafa – should be a blast!


Kimmi Says:

I also watched Ferrero v Ferrer last night, I was hoping for Ferrero to get a third title in a row, that would have been somethin’ but Ferrer was too good in that third set. He got his revenge from last week..he needed that title ferrer, his ranking was going backward for a while.

Madmax – yes, Gulbis. He gets Karlovic who demolish Fish 6-2 6-3 hmmm! Its gonna be tough for Gulbis but….


Duro Says:

Maxi, thank you. I’m very pleased. Lost some nerves, as usual, but OK. See you.


sar Says:

Finally,got that monkey off his back. Ugly win again but after grinding back the whole tourny he deserves it. Youzh had chances.


madmax Says:

sar,

as these two friends? Youzhny and novak?


jane Says:

Duro says re: Djoko, he’s “won back-to-back titles, finally crossed the number 2 line and he defended a title” all things that have happened in the last few months. Well said! (No rain today Duro? :))

Moreover, he hasn’t been playing his best tennis; he has been doing so only sporadically. If he can fix his serve, definitely he can achieve more. The next goal is clear – win another slam. As a bonus, he should seek to win a masters series event too.


Nina Says:

I’m so proud of Nole and oh so happy! Finally he gets to defend a title, it will boost his confidence big time. Kudos to Djoko!


OllyK Says:

Duro, yes, in Novak we trust!! Always and forever! Go, falcon!
sar, as one of Noles fans from another site said: (stu, some of you know her) “next goal for this year is to beat Rafa on clay!” :))))


OllyK Says:

sprry, I meant “jane”, not “sar” ;)


OllyK Says:

sorry*, typo. :D


madmax Says:

contador and kimmi, hope you both enjoy the gulbis match – cannot watch it this end, but enjoy and will catch you both tomorrow.

best.


Duro Says:

OllyK, stu is wanderful! I miss her clever observations. That next goal is not unreachable, I think it’s gonna happen almost sure. It was about time even last year, and Novak deserved it well, Madrid especially. Epic, heroic match. But, I don’t think it should be the next goal. Grand slam, as Jane suggested is far more important, but even that it’s only just a condition for the goals of all goals: A transition from a cocoon to a butterfly, from No2-vak to No1-vak! In No1-vak we trust!!!

If he takes one (GS) that goal is going to be very close, even accomplished, regarding the situation with Fedex defending practically everything. One kicks from him, and we should be there. Title, title, final, 4500 points at stake.


OllyK Says:

I’ll tell stu what you said about her, duro! :) She is fantastic! She is already a member of our “Serbian tribe”, we “accepted” her last year, if I remember well..:)
What do you think about this: Nole takes FO this year and in process of doing it beats Rafa – that would be killing two birds with one stone! :) Or three, cause he would be veeery close to butterfly stage then..


sar Says:

mad max, I don’t know if they are friends but I don’t think they dislike each other. I know I wouldn’t mind him winning something this year, only if my guy is out, of course. :-)

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