For the Dubai tournament, it was the first in 2022 after he was not admitted to Australia to play in the Australian Open Grand Slam in Melbourne due to a lack of vaccination.
Djokovic’s defeat in the quarter-finals of the tournament in Dubai
However, Djoković did not make it through the quarter-finals of the tournament. He fought with Jiri Veseli (123rd ATP) for entering the semi-finals. The rival broke Djoković in the first game of the meeting, but the Serb responded, leading to the equalizer 2: 2. However, Vesely once again won the game at the opponent’s service with a score of 4: 3, and then won the first game 6: 4.
The second set was much more even. Djokovic was broken at 3-4 for Vesely but managed to equate the game 5-5. Ultimately, it was Vesely who won it after the tie-break. It was 7: 4 and the Czech turned out to be better than the best tennis player in the world in two sets.
New ATP Ranking Leader! For the first time in eighteen years from outside the “big four”
The defeat of Djokovic means that in the latest ATP ranking, Novak Djoković will be relegated from the leading position. On Monday, February 28, it will not be the world’s first rocket for the first time since January 2020. The Russian, a finalist of this year’s Australian Open, will become the new number one in world tennis.
Medvedev is the first leader of the ATP ranking outside the “big four” – Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray – since February 1, 2004, and therefore from 6602 days – 18 years and 27 days. The Russian is the 27th player who takes the position of the leader of the ranking.
Amazing balance sheet for Djokovic against Vesely
This is Vesely’s second victory against Djoković. His balance sheet in matches with Serb is impressive – he has never lost against him, so he only has these two wins. It does not include the forfeit that was awarded to Djokovic when Vesely had to retire in 2016.
Vesely’s previous win is also a match played in 2016, on April 13. He won then in three sets – 6: 4, 2: 6, 6: 4 – in the first round of the ATP tournament in Monte Carlo. The Czech in the semi-finals in Dubai will play with the better of the pair, Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania, 99th ATP) and Denis Shapovalov (, 14th ATP).
In the final, Vesely can meet with (11th ATP). The Pole, who is on the other side of the tournament bracket, has just advanced to the semifinals of the tournament after winning against the 10th ATP ranking player, Jannik Sinner from Italy 6: 3, 6: 3. – You can see that Hubert Hurkacz is laid back and everything is doing great -.
Source: Sport
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