Novak Djokovic Joins 700 Club In Dubai; Tomas Berdych v Nick Kyrgios Thursday
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Novak Djokovic cruised to his 700th career win on Thursday, burying Malek Jaziri 6-1, 6-2 in the second round at the Roger Federer-less Dubai event.
Djokovic’s has lost just six games in two matches and he hasn’t lost – 17 straight now – since Federer beat him in London over three months ago. Of course, with Federer still recovering there’s little hope of anyone even pushing Novak this week in the desert.
Next is former finalist Feliciano Lopez who won his 400th career match earlier in the week. Lopez might get seven games.
“I know he likes playing here and likes the conditions,” Djokovic said of Lopez who he leads 7-0. “He slices, and the ball travels through the air quickly and you’ve got to be very reactive, very quick with the baseline shots, especially when you play somebody like Feliciano, who comes in very often.
“I’m going to try to prepare for this match well and raise the game a little bit more than tonight.”
In the semifinals it’s either the improving Roberta Bautista Agut or Marcos Baghdatis. Either way, that’s easy straight sets.
And in the final it might be Stan Wawrinka or Tomas Berdych. Wawrinka first has to contend with Phil Kohlschreiber tomorrow while in his quarterfinal Berdych battles Nick Kyrgios in a rematch of the Australian’s dominant win a week ago.
Kyrgios has backed up his Marseille win nicely thus far with wins over MKs Martin Klizan and Mikhail Kukushkin. He’s winning, he’s on a roll but Berdych might get back on top Thursday.
“Nick is playing really good, with a lot of confidence,” said Berdych. “His game is on a much higher level than usual.
“He’s doing well. So for me it’s going to be a big challenge. Definitely I have a lot to give him back for last week and just really need to refocus myself, try to raise the game, and play some good tennis again.”
Kyrgios also has a huge Davis Cup tie back in Australia next weekend against the U.S. Might he be looking ahead?
THURSDAY DUBAI SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 3:00 pm
N. Kyrgios (AUS) vs [3] T. Berdych (CZE)
[4] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) vs M. Baghdatis (CYP)
Not Before 7:00 pm
[8] P. Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [2] S. Wawrinka (SUI)
[1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs [6] F. Lopez (ESP)
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