Djokovic, Thiem, Cilic reach QFs of Madrid Open

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 1 and top seed Novak Djokovic, Srerbia, and World No 5 Dominic Thiem, Australia, advanced to the quarter-finals of Madrid Open, Spain, on May 9, 2019, winning their respective Round of 16 matches in straight sets.

The winner of 15 Grand Slam singles title Djokovic beat World No 47 Jeremy Chardy, 32, France, 6-1, 7-6 in 1 hr 25 minutes in the Round of 16 to enter the quarter-finals. Djokovic served 4 Aces in the match to 3 by Chardy. Djokovic broke Chardy’s service twice in the match. His winning percentage on both his first and second serve (81% & 71%) was much better than that of Chardy (65% & 63%). Djokovic also won 5 games in a row in the match.

Djokovic will face World No 11 Marin Cilic, Croatia, in the quarter-finals on May 10, 2019. Cilic beat World No 32 Laslo Djere, 23, Serbia, in three-sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the Round of 16 coming from behind. Cilic fired 12 Aces in the match to 5 by Djere. Cilic broke Djere’s service 4 times in the match while the latter broke his service twice. Both the players won 5 games each in a row.

Fifth seed Thiem, winner of Indian Wells Masters and Barcelona Open titles this year, beat World No 12 Fabio Fognini, 31, Italy, in a tough contest 6-4, 7-5 in 1 hr 29 minutes in the Round of 16. Thiem fired 6 Aces in the match to none by Fognini, who had won Monte-Carlo Masters title in April 2019,  Thiem broke Fognini’s service twice in the match. He also won 3 games in arrow in the match. Thiem won 47 service points to 42 by Fognini.