Novak Djokovic is through into the last four in Adelaide. Novak took down Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 55 minutes for the eighth victory over the Canadian from as many encounters. Novak saved three out of four break chances and delivered three breaks that pushed him over the top.
Thus, Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final on Saturday. Novak played better behind the second serve in the opening set. He defended all three break points and broke Denis once to build the advantage. Djokovic faced two break points in the encounter’s opening game and fended them off with winners to avoid an early setback.
The game had multiple deuces before the Serb brought it home with a service winner after ten minutes. Shapovalov got his name to the scoreboard with a booming serve in game two and repeated that at 1-2 to remain on the positive side.
Novak Djokovic is through into the last four in Adelaide.
Novak squandered game points at 2-2 and faced the third break point following a double fault. Djokovic saved it with a forced error and held for 3-2. Denis worked hard in the next one and closed it after deuces to level the score at 3-3.
The Serb grabbed the seventh game with a forehand winner and came from 40-15 down in the one that followed. The Canadian lost four straight points and sprayed a forehand error to lose serve and fall 5-3 behind. Novak served for the opener in game nine and held at love with a service winner for 6-3 after an hour.
Both players served well in the second set’s opening two service games, and Novak stepped it at 1-1. Denis missed a forehand to find himself 40-15 down, and Novak seized the first break chance to open a 2-1 advantage. The Serb held at 15 in the next one to cement the lead and move closer to the finish line.
Djokovic moved 40-0 up in the sixth game before Shapovalov climbed back and took five straight points to pull the break back after Novak’s loose backhand. Denis fended off break points in the seventh game to rattle off three consecutive games and open a 4-3 gap.
However, Djokovic leveled the score at 4-4 and pushed strong on the return again in the next one. The Serb seized the fourth break opportunity that sent him 5-4 ahead and allowed him to serve for the victory. Denis won the opening two points and missed a chance to earn break points. Djokovic created a match point with a service winner and sealed the deal with a volley winner at the net.
