Top-seeded Novak Djokovic struggled while Britain's World No 4 Andy Murray hobbled into the Dubai Open quarter-finals yesterday.
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic struggled while Britain's World No 4 Andy Murray hobbled into the Dubai Open quarter-finals yesterday.
Djokovic, the top ranked player at the two-million dollar tournament in the injury-enforced absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, had to fight hard before seeing off Czech World No 66, Jan Hernych, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was not until the final game that the Serbian really looked like winning.
Hernych started it with a double fault, and Djokovic became encouraged to make three good returns in the next five points, finishing the match with a wrong-footing forehand pass down the line.
"I'm sorry," Djokovic said, when told he had put his supporters through the wringer.
"He didn't have anything to lose so he went for his shots and I was too defensive. You can't always perform at your best and there are some matches where you don't play well."
Djokovic next plays Marin Cilic, the rapidly improving World No 19 from Croatia.
Second seed Murray cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over experienced Arnaud Clement despite having an ankle taped.
"I knew it was important to start well," he said by way of complimenting former top ten player Clement.
"He's a very good returner, and after the first game I served really well."
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