In a thriller at the Roland Garros quarter finals that saw flawless meet unstoppable, Novak Djokovic gets past Matteo Berrettini in 4 sets, to face Rafael Nadal in the semis
Here are my match notes
Through 3 games serves held Berretini threatening more, Djokovic’s serve bails him out of 2 deuces he got into trying/experimenting shots. 2-1 Djokovic
Djokovic breaks to go up 3-1, few errors in drop shots and slices from Berretini, Djokovic able to return serve, next game goes to triple(?) deuce Djokovic holds eventually.
Berretini responds down 15-30 with strong serve to hold. 4-2 Djokovic
Another deuce service game win for Djokovic, its like his serve just gets better clutch. So far 3/3 on break point saves. 5-2 Djokovic..
Berretini holds in a deuce, off a couple nice serves. 5-3
Djokovic takes set on 45 love game, showing multi shot rally set ups, drop shot, strong serve.
Fantastic serve game gives Berrettini 1-0 lead.
Djokovic returns 45 love, with 2 great serves, crazy power wide/short forehand and great drop shot. 1-1
Berrettini holds, in game where rallies are 50/50 but 2 points earned off serve. 2-1
Djokovic wins 3rd service game in a row 45-love. Continuing to mix it up, Berrettini defending/turtling on return.
Drop shot answered at net and unforced error have berrettini down love 30, serve gets him 15, sick rally see’s Djokovic lob then go cross court for double break. Unforced error long from Berrettini see’s Djokovic break and go up 3-2.
Back to a deuce on Djokovic’s next service game, good serve but Berrettini fighting with hard shots earning points. Djokovic holds, Berrettini not able to consistently hit winners under pressure of serve aggressiveness. 4-2
Djokovic breaks again in deuce, that saw a fantastic slice wide at net, shot off the net and on the line, and failed drop shot from Berrettini 5-2.
Djokovic takes the set 45-30, great serves and shots off serve clean up a couple errors in a set that was free of them till this game.
Berrettini holds in deuce, but pressure is on. 1-0
Djokovic holds easy 1-1
Berrettini holds, 2-1
Djokovic holds, 2-2 lol so far neck and neck. But dead even feels like a win for Djokovic
Power striking from Berretinni holds at 40-30, Djokovic ramping pressure returning unreturnable shots. 3-2
Quick hold 45 love from Djokovic 3-3
Berrettini answers 45-15. Biggest service advantage present in this set.
4-4 Djokovic returns.
Big moment for Berrettini defending a break point than winning deuce.
After weird 1st point Djokovic takes it 45 love, defeat on Berrettini’s mind? 5-5
Berrettini holds, looks comfy when game is on his own terms 6-5
Djokovic takes it 6-6
Both were locked in serving 3rd set, Djokovic a little cleaner in his wins, something like 88% of 1st serves in 88% wins on 1st serve 100% wins on 2nd serve
Tiebreak gonna be fun
2-1 for Djokovic ace for berrettini Djokovic has to be perfect in rallies, and is.
2 more quick hard points for Berrettini 3-2
Berrettini gets a break with vicious forehand 4-3
Djokovic breaks back making Berrettini work on the offensive and miss a drop shot 4-4, Berrettini misses again 5-4
5-5 on unforced error from Djokovic (1st in set)
Make a second goes… 6-5 Berrettini serving for set
And takes it with classic hard serve followed by forehand.
Big hold for Djokovic to open 4th set, after going down love 30, alongside first double fault.
2 aces close out a hold for Berrettini 1-1
Berrettini tries to get aggressive hands over a couple points, Djokovic takes the rest with fantastic shotmaking 2-1
Berretini with his quickest service game in a while holds 2-2.
Djokovic holds in a deuce, tested but shotmaking stays consistent 3-2
More of the same to 6-5 Djokovic
In his last service game Berretinni drops 2 unforced errors, Djokovic gets 3 match points and finally closes on the 3rd one with a good rally. First 2 match points showed excellence from Berrettini with saves through a wide serve and untouchable forehand.
Djokovic mixes up his serve so well, between hard, low, high, spin. often successful between 150-175 kmph. Some zingers around 190 though, all around more consistent and effective than Berretini’s harder/faster serve.
Berrettini Locked in from the 3rd set on, where I thought he would falter, but played his best tennis after going down 2-0 in sets. Stumbled a little at the end, but served and hit so hard and so well for most of the match made near perfect play from Djokovic competitive.
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