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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 24, 2019

 
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic turned back a feisty Federico Delbonis, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, to reach the Miami fourth round against Roberto Bautista Agut. 

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

MIAMI—Novak Djokovic is a master of match management, but even elite players experience mood swings.

The world No. 1 was both commanding and cranky and ultimately triumphant turning back a feisty Federico Delbonis, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, to advance to the Miami Open fourth round—and celebrated coach Marián Vajda’s 54th birthday with a victory.

More: Ferrer Turns Back Time Shocks Zverev

It wasn’t always easy.

The six-time champion appeared in total control up 5-2 and then a set and 3-1, but began to lose depth on his drives and grow increasingly distracted. Djokovic griped about the court being too dark, slammed his racquet off the court-sided refrigerator at one point and looked ornery at times before settling down and rolling through the decider.

"To be honest, I lost my focus," Djokovic said. "I should have done better I think mentally than I have done end of first set and also end of second set. I managed to really play well last couple games of first set, go up a break, put myself in front, then I played a couple of really bad service games.

"Credit to Federico, he stepped in. He was the one controlling the pace. I backed up. I didn't have that much depth and power in my shots, and he used it. He stepped in, didn't have anything to lose. I think first two, three games of the third set were crucial, really fighting, trying to be present, regain the positioning on the court more than anything. I think last four games have been terrific, so I ended up in a positive way."

Delbonis played with aggression pushing Djokovic to a third set for the first time in a best-of-three set match since Roberto Bautista Agut stopped the Serbian, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in the Doha semifinals in January.

Djokovic will try to avenge that loss when he plays the 22nd-seeded Spaniard for a quarterfinal spot. Bautista Agut stopped Fabio Fognini, 6-4, 6-4, in 84 minutes earlier today.




Djokovic had dropped only five points on serve in the set when double faulted to face triple break point at 5-3. One of the longest points of the match, saw Djokovic a bit flat-footed as he mistakenly thought the ball had floated long.

It didn’t and Delbonis drilled a forehand winner breaking back for 4-5.

“I’m not gonna play in this dark,” Djokovic said during the ensuing changeover.

The request was granted and Djokovic saw the light rallying from love-30 down to hold for 6-5 then exploiting a double faulted and netted backhand to snatch the 47-minute opener.

When Djokovic rifled a forehand pass breaking for 3-1 he was on course for a straight-sets win.

Delbonis abruptly altered the match drilling a backhand pass down the line for break point.

The ensuing point was electric as Delbonis hit a dipping forehand pass. A lunging Djokovic stabbed an athletic spinning volley, but Delbonis caught up to it and banged a second backhand pass down the line breaking back for 2-3.

Djokovic whacked his Head racquet against the court-side refrigerator earning a racquet abuse warning while leaving a crushed racquet face that the Serbian deposited behind his bench.

The Argentine left-hander’s forehand is typically his most reliable weapon, but his two-handed backhand was on fire when he flashed a backhand pass for a break point then broke on a Djokovic double fault for 4-3 at the one hour, 14-minute mark.

At that point, Delbonis had a a 7-0 edge in backhand winners. He roped a forehand holding for 5-3 and served out the set two games later to force a decider.

Prior to the start of the third set, Delbonis took treatment for a blister on his foot.

Then Djokovic put his foot down. The top seed reeled off five straight games to close and now sets his sights on Bautista Agut.

"I think I'm hitting the ball well," Djokovic said. "I just need a little bit more consistency I think to hold that level of play throughout the entire match. I think that's what it's going to take to win against Bautista. He is one of those players that make you work very hard for every single point. He doesn't make mistakes. Just runs around the court.

"He's very, very consistent and very solid. He improved his backhand, he improved his serve, and his forehand was always very, very solid and powerful. He won against me in Doha this year. I was a set and a break up. I remember that match. He managed to turn the match around. I'll definitely do my homework and hopefully get the win in that match."


 

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