TENNIS NEWS – NOVAK DJOKOVIC TO FACE RAFAEL NADAL IN DOHA FINALS, & ROGER FEDERER BEATS GRIGOR DIMITROV IN BRISBANE

Written by: Resendiz on 18th January 2016

TENNIS NEWS - NOVAK DJOKOVIC TO FACE RAFAEL NADAL IN DOHA FINALS, & ROGER FEDERER BEATS GRIGOR DIMITROV IN BRISBANE |

It will be Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Saturday.

Both players needed only two sets to get through their semifinal matches on Friday in Doha. Nadal ended Illya Marchenko’s run before Djokovic got the best of Tomas Berdych.

The second-seeded Spaniard got through Marchenko 6-3, 6-4 in just one hour and 17 minutes thanks in part to a convincing performance on serve. He faced–and saved–only one break point while serving at 70 percent and finishing with six aces and no double-faults.

“I did a few good things and I’m happy with the victory,” Nadal commented. “Being in the first final of the season in the first official tournament is something great. For sure it’s important for my confidence, confirming that the end of the 2015 season had been something realistic and (in) the beginning of 2016 I (am) still playing well.”

Djokovic recovered from a break deficit in a third consecutive set en route to a 6-3, 7-6(3) defeat of Berdych. The world No. 1 trailed in each set against Leonardo Mayer on Thursday, so he was hardly flustered when the Czech raced ahead early. Djokovic came up with all the answers to prevail in one hour and 42 minutes.

This event marked the only occasion on which the Serb failed to reach a final in 2015, but lightning has not struck twice in Doha.

Djokovic and Nadal will be squaring off for the 47th time in their careers when they clash in the final on Saturday. The head-to-head series is all tied at 23-23 following Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-3 victory in the semis of the World Tour Finals. Nadal was once borderline dominant in this rivalry, but Djokovic has turned the tide in a major way to draw level. The Serb has won four in a row and eight of their last nine encounters. Nadal has not defeated the world No. 1 on a hard court since the 2013 U.S. Open title match, a span of five such matches.

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during their quarter final match at the Qatar ATP Open tennis tournament at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, 07 January 2016. EPA

While both players were considerable favorites to reach this final when the draw was revealed, neither did so with complete ease. Djokovic recovered from break deficits against Berdych (once) and Leonardo Mayer (twice). Nadal survived a pair of three-setters, outlasting fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 and Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

“I guess it’s a pretty important match tomorrow; let’s see what happens,” Djokovic said following his semifinal victory over Berdych. “It’s been a long rivalry. It’s an exciting challenge for both of us.”

At the Brisbane International, meanwhile, Roger Federer held off Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 on Friday night. Federer held 15 of 16 service games to advance after two hours and seven minutes.

The 34-year-old Swiss is ultimately aiming for his second consecutive title at this event and third final in as many appearances. Standing in his way in the semis is Dominic Thiem, whom Federer has never faced. The 20th-ranked Austrian punched his ticket to the last four with victories over James Duckworth, Denis Kudla, and Marin Cilic–two of which required three sets (vs. Duckworth and Cilic). At just 22 years old, Thiem is already in the top 20 and can be expected to stay there for perhaps the next decade.

Like many others, though, he has struggled against the very best in the world (0-4 combined against Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal). But this one should be competitive because over his last two matches, Thiem is serving close to 70 percent with 13 aces and one double-fault.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their quarter final match of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 08 January 2016. EPA/DAVE HUNT

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Brisbane International, Dominic Thiem, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Novak Djokovic, Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis