Second match of the season and second victory for Novak Djokovic. The Serbian beat Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday in the second match of the series between Serbia and the Czech Republic, although unlike what happened against China on New Year’s Eve, This time the world number 1 was scared and had to work hard to advance the game.
As against Zhizhen Zhang, whom she defeated 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour, The Serbian started the match on a high note and imposed his superiority to quickly close out the first set with a resounding 6-1.
It seems that we are facing a new exhibition of the champion of 24 Grand Slam titles, but it is not so. Lehecka did not give up and began to appear more relaxed on court against a Djokovic who was beginning to show doubts and he was unable to prevent the second set from going to a tiebreak.
There The Czech was more successful in the important moments and took the tiebreaker with surprising ease (7-3) to take the match to a decisive set which started a bit late as Nole, suffering from problems with his right arm, had to be treated by the physio.
However, the discomfort did not affect Djokovic’s performance and, from the beginning, he wanted to make it clear that he did not plan to abandon the match. and the eliminator (Olga Danilovic had previously lost to Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3) and broke Lehecka’s serve in the first change.
No more stories. The world number 1 passed the roller to close the match with a clear 6-1overcome the fear in the second set and take the tie in the decisive mixed doubles match that is currently being played, without Djokovic.
“Well, in the beginning of time these things can happen. Luckily, I know how to drive and find solutions on the go to win the game.Novak said at the end of the meeting.
The United Cup also saw the debut of Greece on Tuesday. The presence of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari made the Greek nation one of the serious candidates for the title, but the truth is that things could not have started worse.
Right from the start, the ATP number 6 did not go on court to play his match against Chilean Nicolas Jarrywho won a tough match against Stefanos Sacellaridis 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
What did not fail was Sakkariwho needed just over an hour to defeat Daniela Seguel 6-0, 6-1 and make the tie 1-1.
Everything will be decided, therefore, in the mixed doubles match, where Tsitsipas hopes to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth that he was unable to play in the singles. But it’s not like that. Daniela Seguel and Tomás Barrios Vera played the main points better to end the match and the tie against Stefanos and Sakkari for a tight 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-6.
After today, Greece closes group B with 0-1 and is obliged to beat Canada this Wednesday in the eliminator that closes the group. If they do so, there will be a triple tie (1-1) and one of the series will have to use the number of sets won at home.
This Tuesday they will also face each other Croatia with the Netherlands.
Source: La Verdad
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