World number one Novak Djokovic cruised through his opening match of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday, while Stan Wawrinka had to dig deep to beat Borna Coric and conceded his thoughts had been far from tennis over the past few days.
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Just as important for the Serb as getting square with his friend with a 6-4, 6-1 win of military efficiency in the quarter-finals was the message his body sent to his ever-clicking brain before the US Open, which starts on 31 August.
Playing in his first tournament since losing the Wimbledon final to Djokovic last month, Federer looks fresh and rested and advanced to a last eight encounter against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, who upset 2013 Cincinnati champion Nadal 5-7 6-4 7-6(3).
She said speaking out on such issues “maybe won’t help”, but added: “Maybe it’ll reach the right ears at the right time”.
The game in America is sustained by one great player – Serena Williams – which makes local enthusiasm at the friendliest tournament on the circuit all the more remarkable. “But I felt good on the court”. Djokovic defeated Wawrinka 6-4, 6-1.
In the pair’s first career meeting, Williams came out on absolute fire, ripping through the first nine games of the match for a 6-0, 3-0 lead.
Tommy Robredo beat Sam Querrey 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 after the third set was delayed by rain.
Djokovic eventually took his place in the semi-finals, after converting his fifth break point – on his first match point – where he now awaits the victor between Alexandr Dolgopolov and Tomas Berdych. I mean, I won a lot of matches.
Williams faces Ana Ivanovic next, a player she has an 8-1 head-to-head record against.
“It was a unusual match all in all, but the instructions I got from the coach was to expect the unexpected, and that was the case”, Djokovic said. “I’m generally happy with my tournament”. After dropping the first set, she fell behind 3-4 in the second set. She quit three games into the second set.
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Azarenka was cautious later about declaring she would play in the US Open. Wawrinka pulled out a 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) win after Ivo Karlovic double-faulted on match point, his second serve hitting the top of the net. It hurts a little bit because I have been playing so well. “I will try to take the positives out of this match”.
