Djokovic and Nadal Reach China Open Semis

October 9, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and third-seeded Rafael Nadal both reached the semifinals of the China Open on Friday, each taking out Americans in the process to reach the final four in Beijing.

Djokovic put together a clinical performance, ousting the sixth-seeded Jon Isner and moving past the top-ranked American 6-2, 6-2.

The Serb, who is known as the best-returner on the ATP Tour, completely neutralized the big serve of Isner, allowing only three aces from Isner, and won 50 percent of the points on Isner’s serve.

In contrast, Djokovic lost just nine points on his serve and didn’t face a single break point.

“Today was a great match,” said Djokovic. “Obviously the face that he served that high of a first percentage of serves in and I managed to break him twice says enough about the quality of the return that I had today. That was the key to winning the match.”

Djokovic has now won 23 straight sets at this tournament, and will look to continue that domination against fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, who ousted Chinese Taipei wild card Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3, 6-1.

Djokovic is 15-5 all-time against Ferrer.

Nadal had a little tougher time in his quarterfinal against Jack Sock. The Spaniard dropped the opening set, only to rally for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory to book his spot in the final four.

“Obviously I finished the match playing better than when I started,” said Nadal. “This year I lost a lot of matches when I had an advantage. So to have the chance to win a match when I start losing…is important for me.”

The third-seed will take on a familiar opponent in Fabio Fognini.

The unseeded Italian disposed of Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 on Friday to reach the semifinals.

Fognini came back from a two-set deficit to upset Nadal at the U.S. Open.

“He’s a great player. When you play against a great player, especially if you don’t play your best, your chances are lower. If I am able to play my best tomorrow, I am going to have my chances. If not, it is going to be tough. It’s simple. Sport is simple. The winner is the player who plays better. Fognini played better in the three matches that he beat me. I was not unhappy at all after the U.S. Open loss. I didn’t play a very bad match. I played okay. He played great. He beat me.”

Nadal is 5-3 all-time against Fognini. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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