Novak Djokovic is in the semifinals in Adelaide. Novak defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 55 minutes for his eighth victory over the Canadian in as many games. Novak saved three out of four break chances and provided three breaks that pushed him over the top.
Djokovic will meet Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals on Saturday. Novak played better after her second serve in the first set. He defended all three break points and broke Denis’ serve once to extend the lead.
Djokovic faced two break points in the opening game of the match and cleared them with winners to avoid an early setback. The match had several deuces before the Serbian won it with a serve winner after ten minutes.
Shapovalov put his name on the board with a booming serve in the second game, repeating at 1-2 to stay positive.
Novak Djokovic is in the semifinals in Adelaide
Novak wasted game points at 2-2 and faced the third break point after a double fault.
Djokovic saved with a forced error and held serve to make it 3-2. Denis worked hard in the next, closing it after Deuces to level the score at 3-3. The Serbian grabbed the seventh game with a winning forehand and in the next he recovered 40-15.
The Canadian dropped four points in a row and made a forehand error to lose serve to lose 5-3. Novak served for the opener in game nine, falling for a 6-3 serve winner after an hour.
Both players served well in the first two service games of the second set and Novak continued at 1-1. Denis missed a forehand and was trailing 40-15 and Novak used the first opportunity on the break to take a 2-1 lead.
The Serbian keeps serving in the next to consolidate the advantage and get closer to the finish line. Djokovic took a 40-0 lead into game six before Shapovalov came back to claim five straight points to pull back on the break following Novak’s loose backhand.
Denis fought off break points in game seven to win three straight games and open a 4-3 gap. However, Djokovic leveled it at 4-4 and pressed hard again in the return leg in the next.
The Serbian capitalized on the fourth break chance that put him up 5-4 and allowed him to serve for the win. Denis won the first two points, missing the chance to gain break points. Djokovic created match point with a serve winner and sealed the match with a volley winner at the net.
