Djokovic saves 4 set points, beats Coric for Vienna quarter

vak Djokovic saved four set points in a 7-6 (11), 6-3 win over Borna Coric on Wednesday to reach Erste Bank Open quarterfinals and move one step closer to sealing year-end . 1 ranking.

Djokovic can lock up top position by winning title on Sunday.

Orwise Rafael Nadal could still mamatically overtake him, although Spaniard would need to enter a tournament in Bulgaria next month in order to do so.

Djokovic will play eir Hubert Hurkacz or Lorenzo Sonego in Friday’s quarterfinal.

Kevin Anderson, who won event in 2018, also advanced to quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Pablo Carre Busta.

Earlier Wednesday, third-seeded Stefas Tsitsipas and . 4 Daniil Medvedev won ir first-round matches.

Djokovic, who had t lost a set in three previous matches against Coric, saved two break points at 4-4 and one more in his next service game at 5-5.

Coric missed four set points in 18-minute tiebreaker, including one on his own serve when he hit a forehand wide.

Croatian saved two set points for Djokovic with aces but hit a backhand long on his opponent’s third chance.

“Borna is a great fighter. He has kind of similar style of tennis as I do. In backhand corner very solid, trying to create points with forehand,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview.

“He was serving very well, especially in first set. It was very difficult for me to return his serve,” said Djokovic, who also held off a set point in his first-round match.

“ tiebreak again, like yesterday against (Filip) Krajivic, decided match, I guess,” he said.

Djokovic was in control of second set after Coric double-faulted when facing a break point at 1-1.

Djokovic didn’t allow Coric ar chance on his serve and closed out win on his second match point.

“I am just really glad to stay focused and play my best at right time,” Djokovic said.

Tsitsipas rallied to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4 and set up a second-round match with Grigor Dimitrov.

Tsitsipas held serve throughout but still lost opening set in a tiebreaker before improving to 3-2 against his German opponent.

Medvedev advanced to second round with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jason Lung, who replaced injured Alex De Minaur.

Medvedev next plays Vasek Pospisil, who beat Canadian countryman Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 7-5.

Also, Jannik Sinner defeated Caspar Ruud 7-6 (2), 6-3 to set up a match against Andrey Rublev.

Im credits: AP