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World no. 1 Novak Djokovic is through to his 13th quarter-finals in Dubai from as many trips to the desert. Novak played a rock-solid match against Tallon Griekspoor, beating the Dutch player 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes.
Thus, Djokovic has improved his score in 2023 to 14-0, seeking the third title of the season and the seventh from the previous eight tournaments! Novak struggled in the opening round against Tomas Machac, squandering the advantage in the final set before prevailing in the tie break.
He was miles above that level today, dominating the serve and return to race over the top. The Serb produced reliable numbers behind the initial shot.
Novak Djokovic is safely through to the last eight in Dubai.
He dropped eight points in his games and kept the pressure on the other side from start to finish.
Griekspoor fired nine aces and served at 71%. However, he faced no less than 16 break points and defended 12 to avoid a complete disaster. Novak grabbed seven straight games from the opening set's closing stages and broke the rival's resistance to sail into the final eight and repeat the last year's result.
Djokovic produced four comfortable holds in the opening set and challenged the opponent to repeat that. Instead, Tallon got broken twice to push the Serb ahead in no time. Novak broke in the second game to create an early lead and held everything under control for 5-2.
Griekspoor served to stay in the set in game eight and experienced another break to hand the set to Djokovic 6-2. Novak broke again at the start of the second set and prevailed in a marathon fourth game to open a 6-2, 4-0 gap.
Tallon saved two match points in game six to avoid a bagel and broke Novak in the next one to reduce the deficit to 5-2. It was Djokovic's only loose service game, and it came at the worst moment while serving for the victory.
The Dutch player served in game eight, hoping to prolong the action for at least another game. He held at 15 to reduce the deficit, and the Serb served for the triumph for the second time in game nine. Novak earned two match points with a forehand winner and seized the first with a powerful serve for a place in the last eight.