Novak Djokovic improved to a 22-0 record after battling past Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open Wednesday night, according to atpworldtour.com. The match was closer than the score-line indicated, lasting an hour and 48 minutes. The Serbian’s victory avenges his loss to the South African in the second round here three years ago. “It was anything but easy. The result doesn’t show what we had on the court definitely,” Djokovic said during his post-match press conference.
“I kind of expected him to be aggressive, but he was really going for the shots. He was really putting a lot of pressure on me. A lot. His serve was exceptionally well and hard to read.”
There were two key determining factors in the match – the World No. 2 won 81 percent of his first service points, while the South African managed a modest 60 percent, 18 percent below his 2011 season average. On the return side, Anderson had five break opportunities and could not convert once, whereas the Serbian was economical with his chances, taking advantage in three of his four opportunities.
In another match Roger Federer moved swiftly into the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open, easing past Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-1.
A two-time Sony Ericsson Open champion, Federer was pleased with his overall performance against the Belgian, whom he now owns an 8-0 record against. “I really was able to hit freely tonight and play with great variation, and I think that really kept him guessing… Today I just didn’t allow him to play because I was playing too offensive[ly],” Federer said.
“Everything worked the way I wanted it or hoped it to work, because I’ve played tough matches against him. I should have lost maybe two out of those eight now we’ve played. So I knew the danger of Olivier, and we know each other so well. He can find a way into the match and then make you doubt and find your weakness and so forth.”
AZARENKA DEFEATS KIM CLIJSTERS
World number two Kim Clijsters said she lacked “fighting spirit” after she lost to eighth seed Victoria Azarenka in the last eight of the Sony Ericsson Open, bbc.co.uk informs.
The defending champion, who saved five match points in the previous round against Ana Ivanovic, lost 6-3 6-3.
“I think tonight was going to be very tough, obviously, but I just didn’t feel good out there,” said Clijsters, quoted by bbc.co.uk. “Just mentally, physically, I didn’t feel right. It has been a tough few last days but not in a way that I should not be ready for that. I train hard enough to physically be capable of doing that”.
