– Novak Djokovic defeated Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 in the Rogers Cup quarterfinals.
The Serbian professional tennis player pulled off a remarkable victory as he survived two match points before beating Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Djokovic is currently ranked world number one and is eyeing to win fourth Canadian crown, winning the tournament in 2007, 2011 and 2012. He survived two match points for the first time since 2012 in Shanghai and he has won 51 out of 54 matches this year.
“You have to give credit to (Gulbis) for playing an excellent match,” top-ranked Djokovic said. “He was always making me play an extra shot, and putting a lot of pressure on my second serve. I had a lot of chances and closed it out in the end, but he had a couple of match points and it would have been deserved if he had won this match,” he added.
In another quarterfinal, fourth-ranked Kei Nishikori swept aside Spanish star Rafael Nadal with a swift victory 6-2, 6-4. Nishikori continued his winning momentum as he won a hard-court title in Washington last week. The Japan international was all over Nadal’s serve and took just 82 minutes to beat the former champion at the event.
Nishikori won his first match against Nadal after seven losses and will next face second seed Andy Murray. Seventh-seeded Nadal was unable to escape the humiliating defeat as he made six double-faults on the day.
“It took a long time to finally beat him, but I’m very happy to win my first match against Rafael,” said Nishikori. “I’m quite pleased with my form from last week. I just hope I can keep it going and get another title,” he added.
Novak Djokovic will face unseeded Jeremy Chardy, who saved seven match points against John Isner, in the semifinals of the championship. IMAGE/uniradioinforma.com
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