Djokovic brushes aside hard-hitter Isner News

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Djokovic brushes aside hard-hitter Isner

By Daily Sports on November 14, 2018

Novak Djokovic launched his bid for a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title by brushing aside John Isner in straight sets on Monday. Earlier in the same group, Alexander Zverev made it six consecutive wins against Marin Cilic. The Serbian world number one looked in ominous form at the O2 Arena as he looks to finish his season with a flourish, winning 6-4, 6-3 in a focused and disciplined display. In stark contrast to second seed Roger Federer, who produced an error-strewn performance in defeat to Kei Nishikori on Sunday, Djokovic hit just six unforced errors and won 86 percent of points on his serve. He broke the giant Isner in the fifth game of the first set to establish a stranglehold on the match and never looked like allowing the American back into the contest, breaking twice more in the second set to win in 73 minutes. “The match was great, obviously,” said Djokovic. “I had three breaks of serve of John which is sometimes ‘mission impossible’ but I managed to be at the right place at the right time. “I held serve well, I backed it up from the baseline, I played very solid and didn’t give him many opportunities.” Earlier, Zverev kept his nerve at the key moments to beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1). In a contest packed with unforced errors, the 21-year-old third seed recovered from a break down in each set to establish an early foothold in the Guga Kuerten group. The 30-year-old Cilic, who has a reputation for faltering when under intense pressure, broke first but Zverev hit back as he served for the set at 5-3, going on to edge the tie-break. In the second set, Cilic again drew first blood, breaking Zverev in the seventh game to establish a 4-3 lead but the German responded immediately to level at 4-4.Cilic, seeded fifth in London, dug deep to save match point when trailing 4-5 but the set went to another tie-break, which Zverev dominated, winning 7/1 to seal the match. (NAN)

•Photo shows Novak Djokovic

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 14, 2018