world no. 5 Novak Djokovic prevailed over Quentin Halys 7-6, 7-6 in the second round in Adelaide. Djokovic had to work hard against the Frenchman, losing 5-2 in the first set and settling into a good rhythm after that. Haly fended off two match points at 4-5 in the second set to stay in touch with a 21-time Major winner to the finish.
However, Djokovic outplayed both tiebreakers to emerge on top and avoid a decider. Novak claimed six more points in the first set and claimed it in the tiebreaker after a 5-2 deficit! Halys served first and fired an ace to bring the game home and gain confidence.
Djokovic missed a routine volley in the second game and broke after the opponent’s backhand down the line winner. Novak kept his cool and created two break chances with a forehand down the line winner in the third game.
Quentin saved the first with a big winner and denied the second with a volley winner into the net.
Novak Djokovic beat Quentin Halys in Adelaide.
The Frenchman hit a T-line ace to close out the game and make a perfect start to the match.
Novak held on in the fourth game with a forehand before Quentin fired a serve winner in the next for a 4-1 lead. The Serb grabbed the sixth game with a forehand and volley winner and netted a backhand in the next to find himself 5-2 behind.
Finding the rhythm, Djokovic clinched the eighth game with a forehand winner and had one more chance to extend the set. Like a true champion, Novak fell in love in game nine to spread out the action and get a big push. world no.
5 held at 30 in game ten to clinch the result at 5-5 and add to the drama. They served well in games 11 and 12 to introduce a tiebreaker. As many times before, Novak kept his cool and built a 5-0 lead with three mini-breaks to his account following a forehand down the line winner.
Halys cut the deficit to 6-3 before Djokovic grabbed third set point after 58 minutes. Novak’s serve was on fire in the second set, and Quentin kept up that pace to keep in touch. The Serb closed out the opening game to love with a forehand cross winner and advanced 2-1 with another.
A serve and volley combo put Djokovic 3-2 ahead, and Halys closed out the result at 3-3 with a serve winner in the next. Both served well in the next three games before the Frenchman experienced two match points at 4-5.
Quentin denied both and held with an ace to close out the score at 5-5. Novak closed the eleventh game down 30-0, and Quentin held on for nil a few minutes later to introduce the second tiebreaker. Halys opened a 4-3 gap with a booming serve, and Novak took the next point with a game-winning volley into the net.
A forehand winner sent the Serb 5-4 up, and the Frenchman followed that pace on the tenth point to stay neck-and-neck. Novak grabbed a decisive mini-break on the eleventh point and seized third match point at 6-5 with a forced error to emerge on top.
