Djokovic makes it 15 in 15

DUBAI – Novak Djokovic said he will learn his fate about being granted entry into the United States before the draw is revealed at Indian Wells, adding that he remains focused on his campaign in Dubai in the meantime.

Djokovic, who continued his march towards a third title in as many tournaments this season with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the Dubai quarter-finals yesterday, is waiting to hear if the US Government will allow him to enter the country without being vaccinated.

The Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells begins on March 8 and Djokovic said a decision will be made one way or the other before the draw for the ATP tournament is conducted on Monday at 3pm local time.

“Whatever the decision is before the draw, if I’m not allowed, I’m going to pull out, of course, before the draw,” assured Djokovic.

The world No.1, seeking a sixth career title in the northern emirate, improved to 5-0 against Hurkacz, 15-0 for the season, and has extended his overall winning streak to 20 consecutive matches, dating back to last November’s ATP Finals.

The 35-year-old faced zero break points on his own serve and was an impressive 12/13 at the net, needing just 71 minutes to close out the victory. “I think he’s got one of the best serves in the game,” Djokovic said of the 11th-ranked Hurkacz.

Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev reached his first semi-final since tearing three ligaments in his right ankle during his clash with Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last June.

The German seventh seed defeated fellow big-server, Italian Lorenzo Sonego, 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes, saving all six break points he faced during the encounter.

The 25-year-old Zverev was ranked No.3 in the world and was up a set on Nadal in their French Open semi-final last year when he suffered a horrific ankle injury.

“Last year during the French Open was the first time in my life where I went into matches, I went into the Alcaraz match, the Nadal match as well, and I thought ‘I can win the French Open and I’m going to win the French Open’,” stated Zverev, who spent seven months on the sidelines after sustaining the injury.

In the Dubai semi-finals today, Zverev will take on No.2 seed Andrey Rublev, who is trying to successfully defend one of his 12 ATP titles for the first time in his career this week.