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By Chris Oddo | Friday, February 27, 2015

 
Novak Djokovic, Dubai 2015

After a first-set bagel, Novak Djokovic had to battle fiercely to prevail against Tomas Berdych in Friday's second semifinal in Dubai.

Photo Source: India.com

A sprint turned into a slog for the world No. 1 on Friday in Dubai, but when the last ball was struck, the predictable outcome ensued.

Novak Djokovic won for the sixteenth consecutive time against Tomas Berdych on a hard court to set up a cracker of a final with Roger Federer at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4. Djokovic looked to be off to the races against Berdych after jetting through the first set with only three points dropped on serve, and hardly dropping a return point as well.

Djokovic-Federer, By the Numbers, Edition 37

But after falling behind a break in set two, Berdych’s coffee kicked in and the Czech started tossing mighty blows in the direction of Djokovic, many of which landed for winners or, at the very least, pinned Djokovic back behind his baseline with nothing left to do but defend.

“Even after the first set that went as perfectly as possible and when I was break up I knew that the match is not over,” said Djokovic, according to the ATP. “I just wanted to stay on that level, but it was hard.”

A spirited, if choppy, set of tennis that featured five breaks of serve concluded when Djokovic netted a reply on Berdych’s second set point.

In the third set the level picked up a bit and the player’s proceeded neck and neck until Djokovic turned up the volume on his world-class defensive game to break to love for a 3-2 lead. Though Berdych would press immediately back, Djokovic would save a break point to survive a nine-minute multiple deuce game to consolidate for 4-2.

Berdych would hold twice to stay in touch, but Djokovic would seal the deal on his second match point when he forced a wide backhand from the Czech.

The victory puts Djokovic one win shy of his 50th title, which would allow him to pass his coach, Boris Becker, on the ATP’s all-time title list.

Djokovic will face Roger Federer for the 37th time on Saturday in Dubai. He knows he’ll have to be special to get past Federer on the court that has seen the Swiss maestro earn six titles. "When you play Roger, it's always a great challenge," said Djokovic. "If you want to win you have to play your best tennis… I feel like this is the kind of a surface and conditions that it suits his game the best."

 

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