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Djokovic downs Delbonis, Halep battles into Miami 4th round
MIAMI, March 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – 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.”
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.
“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.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0847 hrs