Djokovic downs Haas to progress
Novak Djokovic the man to beat in Indian Wells
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Tuesday, 17, Mar 2009 10:08
Defending champion Novak Djokovic eased through to the fourth round at Indian Wells with a 6-2 7-6 win over Germany's Tommy Haas.
Haas looked comfortable in his opening service game at 30-0, but a couple of wayward shots allowed Djokovic back in the game and the Serb went on to break in the opening game.
The 30-year-old Haas is one of the oldest players in the draw and has had a number of shoulder surgeries in recent years. He managed to stay in the rallies against Djokovic early on but was just unable to match his younger opponent when it came power and precision in shots.
Haas won his second service game to get on the board, but had a terrible next game as he lost his serve for a second time.
The German put an easy volley into the net and then smashed the ball out of the stadium and was given a code violation.
He was given a second code violation for smashing his racket after missing another simple volley, so now not only was he 4-1 down, but the two violations meant a point penalty.
Djokovic was rarely pushed in the first set and the world number three comfortably served out to take it 6-2.
The Serb continued to dominate in the second set and though Haas saved two early break points, Djokovic broke on his third break point opportunity and took a 2-1 lead.
Haas, however, refused to give up and a brilliant running backhand winner down the line in the next game gave him three break points and he was back at 2-2 with a precise drop-shot.
The seventh game in the second set last close to 15 minutes and Djokovic was unable to convert four break point chances as Haas held on to take a 4-3 lead.
The former world number two then got to 15-40 on the Djokovic serve, but hit an easy forehand winner just wide and was made to pay for the miss as Djokovic came back to hold to make it 4-4.
Haas continued to show his fighting qualities as he saved two more break points at 5-5 and took an important 6-5 lead. The set eventually went into a tie-break and Djokovic showed his class as he raced to a 7-1 win to take the set and the match.