Novak Djokovic Advances to Athens Semifinal
Novak Djokovic defeated Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in 1 hour and 43 minutes at the ATP 250 tournament in Athens, securing his place in the semifinals.
Match Summary
Djokovic conceded only 12 points on his serve and saved two break points in the opening set. The 24-time Grand Slam champion converted one of five break points and struck 22 winners against 20 unforced errors. Borges managed to save break points in the second and eighth games of the first set but missed two opportunities in the ninth game. The set remained on serve until the tiebreak, which Djokovic dominated with three mini-breaks, winning 7-1.
In the second set, Djokovic won five service games and secured the only break in the seventh game, closing the match with a service hold in the tenth game.
“It was a very physical battle. I thought Nuno played a high level. I was a bit surprised with how good he played. I think we went toe to toe, most of the match. Just a few points decided the winner tonight and he deserves a round of applause for his performance,” said Djokovic.
Next Round
Djokovic will face Yannik Hanfmann in the semifinal, after Hanfmann narrowly defeated Marcos Giron 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
Author's summary: Novak Djokovic overcame a tough challenge from Nuno Borges in Athens, demonstrating resilience and skill to reach the semifinal against Yannik Hanfmann.