Djokovic Battles Past Coric On 10th Match Point, Nadal Into Last 16
Muhammad Rameez Published April 18, 2018 | 10:18 PM
Novak Djokovic needed 10 match points to see off Borna Coric in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday
Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2018 ) :Novak Djokovic needed 10 match points to see off Borna Coric in the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Wednesday, while world number one Rafael Nadal eased past Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-3.
Djokovic, playing only his fourth tournament since Wimbledon last July after struggling with a right elbow injury, overcame some late nerves to win 7-6 (7/2), 7-5. "It was a real battle. I mean, I could have won the match earlier definitely, but it was great to deal with these kind of emotions again," said the 12-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic is working with long-time former coach Marian Vajda for the first time in almost a year after splitting from Andre Agassi, and the 30-year-old has looked rejuvenated in Monaco after early exits in Indian Wells and Miami.
The Serbian will next face Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem with a possible quarter-final against defending champion Nadal, who plays Karen Khachanov in the last 16 on Thursday, up for grabs. But Djokovic insisted he wasn't looking past the clash with Thiem, a French Open semi-finalist in each of the last two years.
"It's disrespectful towards Dominic and Dominic's tennis... To think about and talk about potentially a match-up with Nadal," Djokovic added. "Last year in Roland Garros he beat me in straight sets.
He's definitely (a) top-three player in the world on clay." Djokovic came through a tight first set in a tie-break and moved a break clear in the second, before late drama as he tried to close out the match.
The 39th-ranked Coric saved two match points on his own serve with Djokovic leading the second set 5-3, before fighting back from 40-0 down as the former world number one struggled to get over the line.
A succession of wild backhands and a tame forehand into the net saw four more match points come and go, before Coric levelled the set at 5-5 as Djokovic blasted wide and long. The ninth seed rediscovered his composure, though, to break again and finally complete the job at the 10th time of asking as Coric sent a backhand flying long.
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