Novak Djokovic gets past Fernando Verdasco in three sets during second-round action in Beijing on Thursday. Next up for Djokovic is Sam Querrey, who ousted Stanislas Wawrinka in straights.
(1) Novak Djokovic d. Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
Up-and-down performances from both men mixed in with a comedy of double-faults on break points, the Djokovic-Verdasco China Open quarterfinal ended after one hour and 54 minutes on Friday–with Djokovic emerging victorious. The world No. 1 seemed to get on track when he broke at 6-5 to snag the opening set. However, the middle frame of play was a disaster for Djokovic. Verdasco seized two breaks, once at 1-1 and again at 4-2 before serving out the set one game later.
Success for the 31st-ranked Spaniard, though, was short-lived. He donated serve in the second game of the decider and never got it back. Djokovic fought off one break point along the way then added one more break at 5-2 to finish off the proceedings in style. The Serb recorded five aces and two double-faults en route to a semifinal showdown against Sam Querrey.
Sam Querrey d. (6) Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 7-6(2)
Querrey scored his first career win over Wawrinka in four tries by rolling in just one hour and 16 minutes. The 6’6” American took control with an early break in the first set and he never came close to giving it back because he dropped only four points in four service games. For good measure, Querrey broke again at 5-3 to wrap up the opener with relative ease.
Wawrinka, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open, showed signs of a recovery by breaking for 2-1 in the second on an errant Querrey backhand. The ninth-ranked Swiss, however, gave it right back in the very next game. Both players held from there to a tiebreaker, which Querrey dominated seven points to two by allowing his opponent to spray forehand errors all over everywhere. Querrey fired 11 aces and two double-faults while winning an incredible 27 of 28 first-serve points.
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