Dubai Tennis C'ships: Djokovic pips Monfils, final clash with Tsitsipas awaits

World number one Novak Djokovic saved three match points before beating Gael Monfils, while Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Dan Evans comfortably in Dubai.

Djokovic will play on Saturday for a fifth Dubai trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Novak Djokovic saved three match points before defeating Gael Monfils 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-1 to reach the Dubai Championships final on Friday, describing his victory as “an amazing escape”.

It was the 17th win of the season for the world number one and a 17th career win over Frenchman Monfils without a loss.

Djokovic will play on Saturday for a fifth Dubai trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas after the second seed and 2019 finalist beat Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3.

The Serbian fought off three Monfils match points in the second-set tiebreaker, as the Frenchman committed forehand and backhand errors on his first two winning chances.

An increasingly weary Monfils blew the third with a double-fault.

Djokovic finally squared the semifinal at one set a-piece on his eighth set point before rolling on to victory in the third set after more than two and a half hours.

“It was an amazing escape,” said Djokovic who now has a 20-match win streak stretching from the end of last year.

“Gael was playing as well as he ever has.

“It was difficult to go through him. I have good defence, but what he did today was unbelievable.

“On the match points, I just hoped that he would miss on first serves, which he did. That gave me an opportunity to get into the points.

“I know Gael was injured and he could not play his best, but once he's healthy, watch out.”

- Tsitsipas juggernaut continues-

Stefanos Tsitsipas won his eighth match in a row on Friday, defeating Briton Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3.

The Greek second seed who lifted the trophy last Sunday in Marseille, returned to the final in the emirate after finishing runner-up here a year ago to Roger Federer.

Tsitsipas could not fault his victory in 83 minutes over the 37th-ranked Evans in a first-time meeting.

“I managed to stay solid throughout the whole match, I didn't have too much stress, I stayed quite calm and played well,” he said.

Tsitsipas, winner of 16 of his last 17 sets, won his 10th career match at the Aviation Club against two defeats.

Tsitsipas could not fault his victory in 83 minutes over the 37th-ranked Evans in a first-time meeting.

 

British number one Evans was competing in his fourth semifinal at the ATP level.

He saved three match points against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round and two set points in the quarterfinals against Andrey Rublev.

Tsitsipas never faced a break point in the match while breaking the Evans serve four times.

The Greek will be playing his 11th career final and aiming for a sixth title.