Aurélie SACCHELLI, Media365, published on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 8:05 p.m.
For his second match of the season, Novak Djokovic dominated Karen Khachanov in two sets to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Dubai tournament. Jannik Sinner got the better of Andy Murray and will face Hubert Hurkacz. Qualification also of Andrey Rublev, who had to fight against Soonwoo Kwon, and Denis Shapovalov.
Novak Djokovic continues his journey in Dubai! For his second match of the season, the world No. 1 did not experience any major difficulties in eliminating Karen Khachanov, the 26th in the world, against whom he had only lost once (in the Bercy 2018 final) in five confrontations. The Serb won 6-3, 7-6 in 1h38. Author of 6 aces and 67% of first serves, he only lost his service once, at 4-3 in the first set when he had taken the opposing service at the start of the set. He had also broken at 2-1 in the first set, and in the second, it was in the tie-break that he had the last word, winning easily 7-2. The Serb can be satisfied with his match, where he particularly shone on the backhand side, even if he still missed a few smashes. For the twelfth time in his career, here he is in the quarter-finals in Dubai, where he will challenge Jiri Vesely (28 years old, 123rd). The Czech created a surprise by eliminating Roberto Bautista Agut, the winner of the Doha tournament on Saturday, 6-2, 6-4 in 1h17. Author of 10 aces, Vesely saved the only break point that the Spaniard got, at 3-2 in the first set. Finally, a break at 1-1 and 4-2 in the first set and 1-1 in the second allowed him to win. Vesely is one of the few players to have a positive record against Djokovic, having won their only confrontation, in Monte-Carlo in 2016.
Rublev in three sets
He clearly didn’t make it easy for himself. Finally, this Wednesday, the Russian Andrey Rublev, 7th player in the world and seeded n ° 2, qualified for the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 tournament in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, after taking out the South Korean Soonwoo Kwon , 60th player in the world, in three sets (4-6, 6-0, 6-3) and 1h44 of play. In the first set, the Russian lost his very first serve. Unable to catch up, Andrey Rublev even almost lost the set on another of his services, at 5-3. It was only a postponement for the South Korean, who was able to conclude on his own service, and after a total of three set points spread over two games (6-4). In the second round, the 7th player in the world therefore knew how to react perfectly, with a total of three breaks on eleven balls obtained., and with a ball to save on his serve at 4-0. For a bicycle wheel with the key (6-0). Finally, in the third and final set, the No. 2 seed made the difference at 2-1, with a break at his third opportunity. With this advantage in his pocket, the Russian then went quietly to conclude this meeting (6-3).
Sinner and intractable Shapovalov
Jannik Sinner enforced her status. This Wednesday, the Italian, 10th player in the world and seeded n°4, qualified for the quarter-finals, after his victory against the Briton Andy Murray, 89th player in the world and beneficiary of a wild card, in two innings (7-5, 6-2) and 1h44 of play. In the first set, the Italian got two first break points at 2-2, before finally taking the service of his opponent for a day, a white service, at the best of times., or 5-5, before concluding in stride (7-5). Finally, in the second and final set, after a first break point saved from the start, the Briton gave in on the second, before having to save another on his next serve. At 1-3, after two new break points saved, Andy Murray gave in on the third, to then find himself fairly quickly trailing 5-1. Jannik Sinner then only had to conclude, even if he did it three times for that (6-2). His next opponent will be the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, 11th player in the world and seeded n°5, who eliminated the Slovak Alex Molcan, 69th player in the world and lucky loser, in two sets (6-3, 6-2) and 1h12 from Game. Finally, in the last match of the day, Denis Shapovalov got the better of Taro Daniel: 6-4, 6-3 in 1h24. Author of 6 aces and 57% of first serves, the Canadian saved the only break point that the Japanese got (at 1-0 in the second set) and took his service at 3-3 in the first set (where he only lost one point on his face-off!) and 3-3 and 5-3 in the second (where he only lost four points on his face-off). Next opponent: Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, whom he has already beaten two out of three times.
DUBAI (United Arab Emirates, ATP 500, outdoor hard, €2,605,144)
Defending champion: Aslan Karatsev (RUS)
Quarter-finals
Djokovic (SER, n°1) – Vesely (RTC, Q)
Berankis (LIT, Q) – Shapovalov (CAN, n ° 6)
Hurkacz (POL, n°5) – Sinner (ITA, n°4)
McDonald (USA) – Rublev (RUS, n°2)
Round of 16
Djokovic (SER, n°1) bat Khachanov (RUS) : 6-3, 7-6 (2)
Vesely (RTC, Q) bat Bautista Agut (ESP, n ° 8): 6-2, 6-4
Berankis (LIT, Q) Bat Popyrin (AUS, LL): 6-4, 7-6 (7)
Shapovalov (CAN, n°6) bat Daniel (JAP, Q) : 6-4, 6-3
Hurkacz (POL, n°5) bat Molcan (SLQ, LL) : 6-3, 6-2
Sinner (ITA, n°4) bat Murray (GBR, WC) : 7-5, 6-2
McDonald (USA) bat Krajinovic (SER) : 6-4, 7-6 (7)
Rublev (RUS, n°2) bat Kwon (CdS) : 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
1st round
Djokovic (SER, n°1) bat Musetti (ITA, WC) : 6-3, 6-3
Khachanov (RUS) beat of Minaur (AUS): 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-5
Vesely (RTC, Q) bat Cilic (CRO) : 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Bautista Agut (ESP, n ° 8) bat Rinderknech (FRA): 6-3, 6-4
Popyrin (AUS, LL) bat Basilashvili (GEO) : 6-2, 6-3
Berankis (LIT, Q) bat Struff (ALL) : 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Daniel (JAP, Q) bat Goffin (BEL) : 6-3, 7-6 (5)
Shapovalov (CAN, n°6) bat Fucsovics (HUN): 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Hurkacz (POL, n°5) bat Bublik (KAZ): 6-3, 6-1
Molcan (SLQ, LL) bat Harris (AFS) : 6-3, 6-3
Murray (GBR, WC) bat O’Connell (AUS, Q): 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-5
Sinner (ITA, n°4) bat Davidovich Fokina (ESP) : 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3
McDonald (USA) bat Karatsev (RUS, n°7) : 7-5, 6-3
Krajinovic (SER) bat Jaziri (TUN, WC): 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4
Kwon (CdS) bat Ivashka (BIE) : 6-3, 6-2
Rublev (RUS, n°2) bat Evans (GBR) : 6-4, 7-5
(With MM)
