Djokovic, Isner to Meet in China Open Quarterfinals

October 8, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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World number one Novak Djokovic rolled into the China Open quarterfinals on Thursday, moving past China’s Ze Zhang 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final eight in Beijing.

Djokovic made sure he wasted no time getting past Zhang. He won 84 percent of his first service points, and was by far the more aggressive player. He hit more than three times as many winners (21 to six) and won 12 of 13 points at the net.

The Serb closed this one out on his first match point chance, ripping a forehand winner down the line to win in just 55 minutes.

“The conditions are definitely suitable to my game,” said Djokovic afterwards. “I feel very pleasant playing on the center court. I guess as I keep coming back each year with that positive record, obviously gives me more confidence knowing that I played so well in the past on this court. I just keep on going. That’s all.”

He will put his return skills on display when he meets sixth-seeded American John Isner in the quarterfinals.

Isner had a tougher time than Djokovic in reaching the quarterfinals. He dropped the opening set to Australia’s John Millman, but fought back to come out on top with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory.

It wasn’t Isner’s best serving day, as he got only 65 percent of his first serves in and he faced seven break points. But he came up big when it counted, converting on both of his break point chances to outlast Millman.

Pablo Cuevas continued his solid play in Beijing. A day after ousting second-seed Tomas Berdych, the Uruguayan beat big-serving Ivo Karlovic 7-6(5), 7-6(7) to move into the quarterfinals.

Cuevas will take on Italian Fabio Fognini, who upset seventh-seeded Belgian David Goffin 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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