Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic: Novak Djokovic ousts No. 10 in his first grass match

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Novak Djokovic has won his first grass match of the season as the Serb defeated Frances Tiafoe at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

Djokovic, ranked at No 2, decided against playing any ATP grass tournaments leading up to Wimbledon.

Instead, Djokovic signed up to play an exhibition match at the Hurlingham Club this week.

On Thursday, Djokovic beat world No 10 Tiafoe 6-3 3-6 10-7.

Djokovic, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Hurlingham Club last year, now has a 2-0 record at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

Djokovic needed three sets to beat Tiafoe

In the first game of the match, Djokovic faced a break point but was able to save it and avoid going down by an early break.

After saving a break point, Djokovic earned the first break of the match in the second game.

In the sixth game, Djokovic had a break point to go up by a double break but Tiafoe managed to save it and cut the deficit to 2-4.

In the eighth game - when Tiafoe was serving to stay in the first set - Djokovic had a set point but the American saved it to cut the deficit to 3-5.

But in the ninth game - when Djokovic was serving for the first set - the Serb had no problems closing out the opener as he converted his second set point.

At the start of the second set, Djokovic missed out on a break point in the first game but he also saved two break points in the second game.

Djokovic also missed out on a break point in the seventh game before being broken by Tiafoe in the eighth game.

After taking a 5-3 lead, Tiafoe had no problems serving out for the second set in the ninth game.

In the match tie-break, the turning point was Djokovic winning three consecutive points to take an 8-6 lead.

Up 9-7, Djokovic realized his first match point to complete a three-set win over Tiafoe.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/4FDYmjt

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