Novak Djokovic was one point away from getting eliminated from the Dubai Championships and he narrowly scarped his victory in the semifinals. His winning streak of 16 matches in 2020 was about to collapse against Gael Monfils in UAE.
World Number one tennis player Djokovic saved three points in the second set for a 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-1 victory in Dubai. With that win, he leads 17-0 in the head-to-head record against Monfils.
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“I don’t want to make it sound like a drastic. But on facing match points for an athlete, it’s like being on the edge of a cliff. You know there is no way back. So u have to jump over and try to find a way to survive I guess,” he said.
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Novak Djokovic
“And pray for the best and believe that you can make it. That there is something that is going to help you,” Novak reflected in his post-match presser.
“There is no going back” – Novak Djokovic
While Monfils was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, Djokovic came up with some clutch tennis, and he balanced the set at 5-5. Later in the tiebreak, the Frenchman had three match points while the scoreline was 6-6(5-3).
With Monfils coming up with three unforced errors, Djokovic saved all the match points. Later, on Novak’s set point at 6-6(9-8), Monfils committed a hefty double fault and gifted him the second set.
“That’s one of the things that I feel at the moment. Okay, one point away, one shot away. There is no going back. This is it. I accept the situation and try to make the most out of it,” Novak continued.
“I settled on the court, something concrete things that I do at the moment and try and stay in the present. And I do not allow my thoughts to go around too much. Focusing on breathing and just executing the next shot,” the Serb concluded.
Read More – Novak Djokovic Saves 3 Match Points Against Gael Monfils to Extend Win Streak
Up next, the warrior with 17-match winning streak Djokovic will face the Greek lad Stefanos Tsitsipas in the finals of Dubai Tennis Championship 2020. Last year, Tsitsipas surrendered to Roger Federer on the Emarati court and this year, he is determined to overpower Novak and to earn the title in Dubai.
