Miami Open: Djokovic Battles Into Fourth Round, Halep Sets Up Venus Clash
25th March 2019
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, meanwhile, swept past Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1
- Novak Djokovic remains on course for a record seventh Miami Open title, but the world number one admitted to a loss of focus in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 victory over spirited Federico Delbonis
- Djokovic is hoping to eclipse Andre Agassi’s six ATP crowns in South Florida over the next week and although the 31-year-old endured some shaky moments at Hard Rock Stadium
- In the women’s draw, Simona Halep kept alive hopes of regaining the world number one ranking Sunday, beating Polona Hercog 5-7, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 to reach the last 16 where she will play Venus Williams
MIAMI, United States-
Novak Djokovic remains on course for a record seventh Miami Open title, but the
world number one admitted to a loss of focus in a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 victory over
spirited Federico Delbonis which booked his place in the last 16.
Djokovic is hoping to eclipse Andre Agassi’s six ATP crowns
in South Florida over the next week and although the 31-year-old endured some
shaky moments at Hard Rock Stadium, he still possessed enough quality during
the key moments to see off the battling Delbonis.
The Serbian, though, wasn't happy with letting a 5-2
advantage slip in the first set and became furious with himself as the second
squirmed from his grasp.
He will need to tighten up his game if he is to reach next
Sunday’s final with Roberto Bautista Agut waiting in the fourth round after the
Spaniard defeated Italian Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-4.
"To be honest, I lost my focus," said Djokovic who
smashed 36 winners compared to 24 from Delbonis. "I should have done
better I think mentally than I have done at the end of the first two sets.
"I managed to really play well last couple games of
first set, go up a break, put myself in front, then I played a couple of really
bad service games. Credit to Federico, he stepped in."
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Djokovic had looked impressive in the second round win over
Bernard Tomic and the Serbian continued his decent form by immediately imposing
himself onto the Argentine.
Djokovic moved 5-2 ahead but after he missed a set point
opportunity on the Delbonis serve, his game deserted him and suddenly, the
South American had a spring in his step.
Delbonis had opportunities to steal ahead, yet calling on
all his experience and mental resolve, the Serbian was able to hold firm and
take the opener.
The world number one was getting incredibly frustrated , he
received a warning for racquet abuse and was furious for allowing a 3-1 lead to
slip in the second, yet credit to Delbonis who stayed calm and served out
confidently to force a decider, something which looked beyond him midway
through the opening set.
He couldn’t keep the pressure on, however, and when Djokovic
managed to get 3-1 ahead, this time there was no way back for the 28 year-old
from Azul who rightly received an ovation from the center court crowd for his
monumental efforts.
"I think last four games were terrific, so I ended up
in a positive way," Djokovic added.
Defending champion John Isner blew Spain's Albert
Ramos-Vinolas off court with serves touching 139 mph as the American sealed an
ultimately comprehensive 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) win to set up an intriguing match with
Kyle Edmund in the last 16 after the British number one impressively saw off
Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4.
In the women’s draw, Simona Halep kept alive hopes of
regaining the world number one ranking Sunday, beating Polona Hercog 5-7, 7-6
(7/1), 6-2 to reach the last 16 where she will play Venus Williams.
Halep, 27, lost her place at the top of the rankings
following Naomi Osaka's triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year.
But with the Japanese faltering here on Saturday, Halep can
return to the position she last held at the end of 2018 if she lands the Miami
Open for the first time.
"It's always tough against Venus," said the
current world number three, who has beaten the American in their previous three
encounters.
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"I'm not going to say that it's going to be easier
because I won the last matches against her. It's a big challenge for me."
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, meanwhile, swept
past Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1.
"Simona always plays flawless tennis against me, so I
have to be ready for that," Williams said.
Elsewhere in women's action, American Sloane Stephens's
title defense ended in a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Germany's Tatjana Maria.
It was another disappointing ending for Stephens, who fell
in the third round at Indian Wells.