Djokovic cruises into R3, says he is back to his best
Imperious Novak Djokovic declared that he was “a completely different player” from the first half of this year after he beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-5 to roll into the Shanghai Masters third round.
The rejuvenated Serbian second seed has now won all 12 matches against Chardy and this victory was never in doubt.
The 31-year-old Djokovic had to contend with a more stubborn Chardy in the second set, before the world number three’s superior shot-making won through in 83 minutes.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion missed six months of competition in 2017 and had elbow surgery in February.
But he has burst back to form and fitness since the summer, winning Wimbledon, the US Open and the Masters 1000 Cincinnati in a terrific run, and says he is back close to his best.
Djokovic, who is eyeing Rafael Nadal’s number one ranking, said: “I haven’t won too many matches the beginning of the year. “After the surgery I was
SHANGHAI:
not managing to play my best, and that has changed, so obviously the more you win, the more comfortable and more confident you feel on the court.”
The Serb will play either Italy’s Marco Cecchinato or South Korea’s Chung Hyeon next — he lost to both during his darker days in the first half of the year. “I think I’m a completely different player than I was in first five, six months of the year,” he said. “Hopefully the outcome can be different as well.”
UMPIRES BANNED FOR MATCH-FIXING
Three tennis umpires from Thailand have been handed life bans for match-fixing and betting offences, including manipulating the official scoring system during matches, the sport’s anti-corruption body said. Anucha Tongplew, Apisit Promchai and Chitchai Srililai “have been banned for life from officiating at or attending any professional tennis events”, the Tennis Integrity Unit said.
BANGKOK: