Dubai Championship ATP 500

[tenisplayrla08]

Break to love for Berdych. We're back on serve and Djokovic clearly not as focused as he was. Berdych playing differently of course. He had to. Less conservative. More aggressive. However you want to say it. And as I type that the commentator says it. I'm not as dumb as I seem sometimes I guess. 40-love for Berdych on serve by the way. But, of course, Djokovic doesn't have to be as perfect as he was in that first set to win. He just has to get one consolidated break. Not 3.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Hold to love for Berdych now for 4-3. Djokovic did win a point or two in that previous Berdych service game that he had 40-love in. So certainly more competitive now. Which is definitely what I expect from Berdych in Dubai where he's made two straight finals. I'm sure in the end though Djokovic's 4 titles will beat the 2 finals.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Double break point. And he'll get a second serve. Annnndd a solid return from Berdych and Djokovic's response is well long. Berdych serving for the set.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

I swear they make these online feeds freeze up at the most important times on purpose.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

So as I get the feed back Berdych is down 15-30 and he'll have to hit a second serve and a long rally ends with Berdych going long. Double break point. Djokovic challenging a call now to win the game but he's wrong. Berdych saves one break point.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

But excellent defense from Djokovic wins the second. 5-4 Berdych. On serve again. Djokovic may not be at the level he was but he's close and Berdych may be playing better but Djokovic can still break at will almost.

 

[Carol]

Berdych 0-6 first set against Novak? was he focused?:nono

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Missed Djokovic's service game for the second time in a row, but he held. Amazing pass from his just now to make it 15-all in Berdych's service game. And now a second serve. And that ends with Djokovic up 30-15.

 

[auto-pilot]

Djokovic got 80% of first serves in, in the 1st set.
Only 54% in the 2nd set.
That alone is enough to change the match dramatically.

Berdych whereas got 60% of first serves in, in the 1st set.
Only 46% in the 2nd set, strangely enough.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Bad miss from Djokovic at the net though gives us 30-all.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Berdych goes behind Djokovic with his second shot (which causes Djokovic to slip trying to switch directions and he holds with a strong serve. I'm not sure I want to see a tiebreak. I think Djokovic would just dominate. But we'll see. I imagine he'll hold.

 

[Carol]

HC=serve, main weapon!:emperor:

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Djokovic receiving treatment on his finger. Just a band-aid I think. I won't berate him for it. If it's bleeding it just needs to be covered. But who knows why he's doing it. Didn't take too long. But.... it may cause Berdych to lose some rhythm.

 

[Carol]

What's wrong with Novak? the finger didn't bother him during the first set?:devil

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Berdych coming up with a great pass down the line from outside the doubles alley to get double set point. Djokovic saves the first though.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Second serve for Berdych to return. Long rally and Djokovic hits the unforced error. We're going three. Great response from Berdych. That pass was beautiful.

 

[Carol]

Well played Berdych, now for the second set, come on!:clap

 

[GameSetAndMath]

That tennis from Djokovic was down right phenomenal. Berdych was not playing poorly. He just wasn't able to get to some of Djokovic's shots and Djokovic turned some of Berdych's actually really solid shots into great defense. Just amazing. I cannot stress how amazing that set of tennis was. I love Roger, and this is his house. But he doesn't stand a chance tomorrow if Novak plays like that. If Novak plays even close to that. Yeah he's better than Berdych even at 33 or 34 but what Novak just produced is unstoppable. I hope I'm wrong. And we'll see in this upcoming set and against Roger if he can replicate it. But my bet is that he can. Crazy amazing.

That may be true. But, it looks like Roger may not have to face Novak after all. :snicker

 

[auto-pilot]

Never doubt the ability of Berdych to lose the plot.
I mean if his girlfriend is an author, she better not leave the plot lying around.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Took a while but Djokovic holds for 4-2.