Nadal won in similar fashion in his third-round match, downing Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-3.
Advertisement
Murray was serving well and volleying sweetly as he looked to avenge last year’s quarter-final defeat to Tsonga, and closed out the first set without too much trouble. American Jack Sock sprang an upset on troubled 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who went down 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.
“I never played him before so it took me some time to really figure out what his patterns were of the serves, his game in general”, Djokovic said on the ATP Tour’s official website.
It was all calm on centre court where Djokovic got off to a sluggish start but after breaking to go up 3-2 the 28-year-old Serb was in complete control with the Sock managing just a single break chance, which he was unable to convert.
Djokovic thought he won the set when a linesman called Gulbis’s second serve out with the top seed leading 7-6 in the tiebreaker, but Gulbis challenged and the replay showed the ball was in.
The game is set to start at 8pm BST. Djokovic broke back and forced the game into a tie break, where he came up trumps.
“Ground strokes, I was very aggressive”. Managed to win against him a few weeks later at the US Open, which was for me a big win.
The world number one has won 50 of his 53 matches this year. He’s 37-1 since March.
“Being in the quarter-finals here, my first appearance is just fantastic”, she said.
The Nishikori and Murray match promises to be more competitive. The 28-year-old secured three breaks of serve to clinch the set 6-1 and secure his place in the last four of the tournament.
“You have to give credit to (Gulbis) for playing an excellent match”, Djokovic said. “The first game was important”.
“I think I served better”, Williams said. The lefty held serve just four times all match. “I know if I get broken, the set is close to being finished”. Down 4-2, the 32-year-old double faulted on three separate occasions.
“I’m very proud to reach my first Masters semi-final”, said the 49th-ranked victor who levelled his season record at 18-18. I watch all of his matches online. That was the key for me.
Murray’s serene progress boosted his hopes of winning an “awkward” doubles contest against brother Jamie later on Thursday. Unfortunately missed two match points.
The Scot beat 10th-seeded defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 6-4. Nadal needed one hour and 43 minutes to taste victory. “He played great today. No doubt about that”.
Djokovic nearly joined Nadal on the way out but rallied from a set down to beat Gulbis 5-7 7-6(7) 6-1, setting up a semi-final with Jeremy Chardy of France.
Advertisement
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal cruised into the quarter-finals with routine victories at the $3,587,490 Canadian Open tennis tournament.
