Home » ATP Dubai: Novak Djokovic begins his championship defense by working hard.

the top ranking in the entire world 16 years after making his debut in the desert, Novak Djokovic began his 13th season in Dubai. In the first round, Novak defeated qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and twenty-seven minutes.

Djokovic continued his flawless record in the first rounds of this competition and won his 44th victory in Dubai as a result. After winning his 22nd Major championship at the Australian Open, Novak entered a competition for the first time. He dropped the second set before coming back to win the match and raise his 2023 score to 13-0.

In the final set, Machac battled valiantly and overcame a 4-1 deficit to increase his chances of defeating the top player in the world. Even so, Novak won the tie-break to win the match and advance to the next round. The number one player in the world saved seven of 10 break points and three times took the opponent’s serve.

In the first set, Djokovic had trouble finding the opening serve. He did, however, save two of the three break points and twice take the opponent’s serve to win 6-3. In the opening game of the match, Novak held after two and compelled Tomas to make a mistake at one for a hold at love.

In the fourth game, the young Czech had issues with his serve and sprayed a forehand error on the third break point to lose 3-1. In game five, it was Novak’s turn to play a sloppy serving game, firing a forehand mistake that put Tomas back on the winning side.

In game six, Machac again lost the lead after the opening shot and trailed 4-2. A few minutes later, Djokovic doubled his lead with a strong hold, and he sealed the set 6-3 with a hold at love in game nine. In the second set, the Czech served just at a 50% clip, but that wasn’t a problem for him.

At 5-3, he broke the tie with a timely break and a strong serve to win the set. To establish a 2-0 lead and get into a good flow, Tomas caused Novak’s backhand error in the second game. After a confident hold, the Czech Republic went up 3-0 and increased its chances of breaking the tie in game four.

Tomas Machac was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the crucial tie break.

To stay within a break of the opponent, Novak saved two break points, and both of them produced dependable holds throughout the course of the following four games. Tomas faced a break point following an errant backhand on his serve to end the match at 5-3.

After an hour and 18 minutes, he ended the set with a backhand down the line winner to break Novak’s serve and force a deciding. Before the fourth set began, Djokovic ran into another problem. He saved a break point in the first game and then gained momentum.

After the opening game, Machac requested a medical timeout for his right hand. His backhand landed long, resulting in a break at love at 1-2. In the following one, the Serb delivered a comfortable hold for 4-1 and advanced toward the finish line.

In game seven, Djokovic faced the second after saving a break point and missing a forehand. To make a break and put his opponent back on the winning side, Novak hit a backhand long. Following a deuce in game eight, Machac held on to win three straight games to tie the game at 4-4 and add to the suspense.

In game nine, Djokovic easily won at the net, holding at love to relieve the pressure and put a stop to his demise. With a forehand winner on the return in game eleven, Novak increased his lead to 30-15 before Tomas won the following point with a serve and volley combination.

The Czech maintained composure and finished the match with a strong serve for 5-5. In the eleventh game, the Serb hit a service winner for a hold at 30 and an additional lead. Machac delivered audacious and aggressive strokes to hold at 15 and force a tie break after serving to stay in the match at 5-6.

For a 4-1 score, Novak forced the opponent’s error in the fourth point. The Serb scored a return point to extend his lead and a return goal to earn five match points. Djokovic won the opening point with a forehand winner to complete the victory.