Djokovic battles past Stepanek

Reuters - Sat, 07 Nov 17:44:00 2009

World number three Novak Djokovic saved three match points before bouncing back to beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 7-5 6-2 and reach the final of the Swiss Indoors.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action at ATP Basel - 0

The Serbian second seed will face either world number one Roger Federer or unseeded Marco Chiudinelli in Sunday's final.

"I served quite badly throughout the match and on this surface its crucial to serve well," Djokovic told reporters. "It was a very difficult match."

Neither player managed a break in the first set before Czech Stepanek went 5-2 up in the tiebreak.

Although Djokovic managed to pull two points back, he then produced two unforced errors to hand Stepanek the set.

The second set also went with serve until the dramatic 10th game when Stepanek held a 40-0 lead and three match points after some erratic serving from the Serb.

Djokovic regained his composure and managed to save all three to hold serve, then broke his opponent in the following game with a cross-court pass.

"That game was terrible for me," said Djokovic. "I just tried to get some first serves in and managed to do it."

The Serb produced another break at the start of the third set as the clearly shaken Stepanek, who had dominated much of the match, lost his nerve.

Reuters

Comment 9 - 28 of 28

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  1. go Novak go !

    From ., on Sun 8 Nov 1:06PM

  2. hater with translator HA HA HA !

    From Igor K, on Sun 8 Nov 11:39AM

  3. Igor Jesti ti normalan, da li je moguce sta si­ napisao??? Sta posle da misle ljudi o Serbima posle­ ovakvog tvog komentara??? Ida pod hitno se leci!!!

    From novak_djokovic, on Sun 8 Nov 11:11AM

  4. Igor Jesti ti normalan, da li je moguce sta si­ napisao??? Sta posle da misle ljudi o Serbima posle­ ovakvog tvog komentara??? Ida pod hitno se leci!!!

    From novak_djokovic, on Sun 8 Nov 11:11AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ray V.
    Die in hate idiot !
    you are disgrace for that­ avatar.

    From Igor K, on Sun 8 Nov 10:24AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ljudi prijavite ovog kretena sa laznim idolom na­ slici.
    to je jedini nacin !

    From Igor K, on Sun 8 Nov 10:14AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    e moj Petre
    @Petar in English – never mind

    From djordje.perovic, on Sun 8 Nov 9:46AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    one day we will recall next match as crossing, who­ knows? i just cant wait Belgrade rematch, but..­ unfortunately that’s not part of RF/tennis philosophy.­ or ’best world sportsman and gentleman’ can surprise us­ again? as entrance to first position fight

    and yes,­ that out at 5:5 in tie break against Stan, ya one ball­ far from possible match point - that was nothing.­ unintentional, Swiss are gentlemans but some others..

    From djordje.perovic, on Sun 8 Nov 9:44AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    damir i agree, bunch of haters.. Ray v, ure an idiot,­ and a big one! xD

    From ralesrbin, on Sun 8 Nov 9:15AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Great tennis, Nole. Now you can step in a little bit­ more serious against the fantastic Fedex machine.­ It's going to be a great final.
    PS: Is there any­ vaccine against this haters? I see an epidemic is under­ way... Even a neutral comment from Dimitris: "I­ expect a great final tomorrow" received a dozen of­ negative votes??!!! You guys definitely need some kind­ of a treatment.

    From damir.tatalovic, on Sun 8 Nov 6:38AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Very good luck Nole, you deserve a great win :-)

    From Jude, on Sun 8 Nov 12:57AM

  12. ooppps...i guess i have the virus too....yah Lucky for­ you Novak that Murray is in another event.

    From Ray V, on Sun 8 Nov 12:24AM

  13. hey Novak....hahaha, the virus i guess is working down­ your system. Fed is your next opponent.

    From Ray V, on Sun 8 Nov 12:23AM

  14. I am really so very happy to make it to the final, and­ I am even happier Andy Murray is not going to be my­ opponent.

    From novak_djokovic, on Sat 7 Nov 11:53PM

  15. @Ray V - the 'brain' bit is an exquisite touch,­ had me laughing out loud there, for real. One of the­ commentators at Eurosport recently noticed a similar­ need for Azarenka. Maybe should have stopped there­ though, the rest isn't all that good, spelling or­ otherwise.

    @ralesrbin in Serbian - Jesi ti normalan,­ da li je moguce sta si napisao? Sta posle da misle­ ljudi o Srbima posle ovakvog tvog komentara? Idi pod­ hitno se leci.

    @ralesrbin in English - What are you,­ crazy, how can you write stuff like that? What could­ people possibly think of Serbs after reading that? Get­ professional help ASAP.

    From Petar, on Sat 7 Nov 11:39PM

  16. ralesbrin.....thinkers are doers. Just dont get caught­ by your dad...lol......Nole will win

    From Ray V, on Sat 7 Nov 11:37PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ray v i cant believi it.. u are such a hater.. i think­ u hate ur mother too, u have probably raped her­ allready!

    From ralesrbin, on Sat 7 Nov 11:15PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Irena u pravu si ' NOLE IS GREAT'

    From krstic, on Sat 7 Nov 9:59PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i expect a great final tomorrow no matter who wins

    From Dimitris, on Sat 7 Nov 9:03PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Nole the Great!!!

    From zivkovicirena, on Sat 7 Nov 9:02PM
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