Sports Report
DUBAI: Novak Djokovic’s 20-match win streak and a perfect start to 2023 ended on Friday when Daniil Medvedev won their Dubai Championship semi-final in straight sets.
In Saturday’s final, Medvedev came through 6-4, 6-4, and will face Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev, the defending champion.
Novak Djokovic suffered his first loss since November as Daniil Medvedev sent him packing. The world No seven downed the top seed 6-4 6-4 in only an hour and 35 minutes as Novak Djokovic struggled with some uncharacteristic errors. It also marks Djokovic’s first defeat this year, while Daniil Medvedev extended his own winning streak to 13 matches
Djokovic and Medvedev face off for 14th time in a semi-final
Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev were facing off for the 14th time in a semi-final at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships. Both players were coming into the clash on form, having claimed two titles each so far this season already, with the Djokovic’s last defeat coming in November while the world No seven had not lost since a third-round departure at the Australian Open.
Looking to claim his third title in three weeks, Medvedev was first to pounce and break the top seed for a 3-2 lead. Medvedev then started hurtling towards a one-set lead as Novak Djokovic hit a series of uncharacteristic errors while struggling at 2-4 down to get broken for a second time, allowing Daniil Medvedev to serve for it.
But the five-time former champion in Dubai retrieved one of the breaks, denying Daniil Medvedev the opening set, forcing the third seed to try and serve it out once again. Medvedev recovered from 15-30 down to take the first set 6-4 following 39 minutes, putting Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten streak in 2023 under threat.
