Djokovic books qtrs berth
Saturday, 13 June 2009
HALLE, Jun 12 (AFP): World number four Novak Djokovic survived a nerve-wracking second-round scare against France's Florent Serra to book his place in the quarter-finals of Halle's ATP tournament Thursday.
Djokovic is the highest seed here after French Open champion Roger Federer withdrew Tuesday, but he had to defend five match balls and battle his way back from the edge of defeat to claim a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 victory.
He admitted knowing he was close to becoming another big- name second-round casualty after Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had earlier crashed out of the tournament.
“It was a lesson learned," admitted Djokovic who plays Austria's Jurgen Melzer - the only other remaining seed in the draw - in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic is the highest seed here after French Open champion Roger Federer withdrew Tuesday, but he had to defend five match balls and battle his way back from the edge of defeat to claim a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 victory.
He admitted knowing he was close to becoming another big- name second-round casualty after Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had earlier crashed out of the tournament.
“It was a lesson learned," admitted Djokovic who plays Austria's Jurgen Melzer - the only other remaining seed in the draw - in the quarter-finals.