The Serbian chews the tension but takes a step forward against the Spanish
MADRID, 2 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic won (7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-2) the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich this Friday in the third round of Roland Garros, the second ‘Grand Slam’ of the year and that is disputed on clay in Paris, in a very even duel despite being decided in three sets.
Philippe Chatrier received the tennis players on a sunny day with less wind than in previous days, although the Serbian looked uncomfortable, as in the match against the Hungarian Fucsovics, against whom despite the victory he struggled to find his game.
At the beginning, he found a responsive Davidovich who tried to cut the rhythm with drop shots and gamble at the slightest opportunity he saw. While the man from Malaga was able to win his serves without problems, the Serb had a harder time, saving a ‘break’ ball in the third game and finally giving up his serve in the fifth.
The world number three quickly recovered to recover the break, although he needed three ‘break’ balls, in one of the longest games of the match. He was taking a toll on the ‘marathon’ because in the break between games he made gestures to his bench that he was suffering to breathe well.
Davidovich took a big step towards the set, when with five equals he got his second ‘break’ of the match, but when he served to close the first set, his arm ‘shrinked’ and he was not able to put the clasp, leaving it for the ‘tie-breaker’. There, Djokovic, with a new life, recovered sensations and after ninety minutes of battle he closed the sleeve.
At the start of the second, the tennis player from Málaga entered much better, breaking the Balkan’s serve unceremoniously, alternating a game of drop shots and winning shots that his rival was unable to face. Of course, in the subsequent kick of the Spaniard he recovered it again, after a very long game that ended up falling on his side.
The problem with the breaks was caused by the fact that on one side the lateral wind had a great effect, which made it very difficult to maintain them. So much so that Djokovic took the fifth game of the set, but in the next one he committed three double faults that returned the score to equality.
The key moment came with 6-5 for Davidovich, when he once again had the option of a set ball to equalize the duel, but a very clear forehand missed and again it was decided in the tiebreaker, where the Serb was infallible and He left the game very on track despite not having his best day.
The wear and tear on ‘Nole’ became great and he needed a break for the physio, at which point he had a confrontation, with gestures and whistles from the stands. The tension of the two-time champion was noticeable, but it did not take him out of the match or on the way to his 23rd ‘big’.
In the third set, Davidovich paid for having been so close to winning the second set and entered on the wrong foot, giving up his first serve and suffering a lot in each game. Another ‘break’ came in the eighth, which settled the balance for his rival with a final 6-2. The Serbian tennis player will face the winner of the duel between the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas and the Polish Hubert Hurkacz in the round of 16.