Djokovic’s Chance Arrives To Make History In 2011 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

© Dubai Duty Free Tennis ChampionshipsNovak Djokovic will contest his 33rd tour-level final on Saturday evening.

Berdych withdraws in pain during third-set

Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday, winning 6-7 6-2 4-2 when opponent Tomas Berdych retired through injury late in the third set.

The second seeded Serbian, who is bidding to win the title for a third successive year, will now play top seed Roger Federer or unseeded Richard Gasquet who were playing later on Friday.

Djokovic looked slow throughout the first set, but both players easily held serve through the first 11 games. Djokovic then found himself under pressure as Berdych held two set points, but Djokovic saved the first with an ace and Berdych netted a forehand on the second. Berdych, though, went on to take the tiebreak on his fifth set point.

Djokovic stepped up his game in the second set, claiming a break at 2-1 when Berdych netted a backhand, another backhand error then gave Djokovic a further break for the set, and Berdych summoned the trainer and had his left leg massaged.

In the final set, Djokovic earned a break to lead 4-2 with a fine service return that landed on the baseline, and Berdych retired two points later.

"The problem was my left quadriceps," Berdych said. "Was not able just to serve, move to the sides, and just feel the pain. It's no chance to just play with this guy in the conditions that I was feeling. So, you know, just didn't make sense to be walking sides and just be able to finish, so that's not my style. I felt it just too much for the serve and I couldn't serve. To play Novak, one of the best return players, this time to play without the serve, no chance."

Although he won the match, Djokovic was far from happy with his performance.

"I don't know how to explain today's match really. In one word, catastrophe," he said. "I think the match overall and my game, it was the worst I think match this year for me, worst performance. But I managed to get a win, so I guess that's what matters. I hate when I play this way, but I was still trying to fight within myself and try to stay focused and at least hold the serve."

Djokovic said he felt fine in the afternoon heat, but feeling the ball was a problem.

"I felt the heat with speed of the ball actually, speed of the ball was unbelievable. I mean, the balls became potatoes. You could not hit two balls in front of the baseline. I mean, it was terrible. Just as soon as the sun came down a little bit around 4:00, the tennis was better. There was more rallies, more variety. So I think for the next year they should move the first semi-final at least for two hours later."

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, continues until February 26th.