King Salman calls for rain-seeking prayer on Thursday    Lebanon, Israel agree to US-brokered deal to end conflict    Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire designed to be permanent, says Biden    Anger in Israel at 'irresponsible and hasty' ceasefire    Al Hilal advances to AFC Champions League knockout stage despite 1-1 draw with Al Sadd    Finance minister: All Vision 2030 projects have sustainable funding that won't affect public finances    Crown Prince announces medium-term debt strategy to diversify funding sources "A resilient economy capable of overcoming challenges reflects progress towards achieving Vision 2030 goals"    'No excuses' for Israel to not accept ceasefire deal, EU foreign policy chief says    Riyadh Season draws 8 million visitors in 6 weeks    Alkhorayef highlights role of National Initiative for Global Supply Chains in boosting Saudi economy    Saudi Arabia signs investment deals worth SR35bn with foreign firms to strengthen global supply chains    Saudi Arabia unveils updates on Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan at 175th BIE General Assembly Riyadh Expo Development Company established to oversee strategic planning, operations, and legacy development    Saudi FM attends Quadripartite meeting on Sudan in Italy    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Cristiano Ronaldo's double powers Al Nassr to 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in AFC Champions League    Al Ahli edges Al Ain 2-1, bolsters perfect start in AFC Champions League Elite    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Djokovic sets up Murray final
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 01 - 04 - 2012

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic beat Argentine Juan Monaco 6-0, 7-6 Friday to reach the final of the Sony Ericsson Open, where he will meet Andy Murray.
Fourth-ranked Murray's semifinal against Rafa Nadal was earlier ruled a walkover after the Spaniard pulled out with a knee injury.
There was the air of a virtual walkover in the way Djokovic dealt with a wayward Monaco in the first set.
The Serb, in imposing form, dismissed him in just 27 minutes and took full advantage of the Argentine's numerous unforced errors as he won 24 of 32 points.
“He was incredible, he really played like the world No. 1 and it was tough on me,” said Monaco.
But after Djokovic broke to go 3-2 up in the second, Monaco fought back well and forced some errors out of the Australian Open champion, who was finally broken when he served for match at 5-4.
The gritty Argentine took the match into a tie-break — a tight affair featuring several long rallies, including one entertaining 26 stroke exchange won by the Serb.
Monaco, who had been cheered on by a largely Latin-American crowd, went long on the decisive point, however, to hand victory to Djokovic.
“I started very strong, just going for the shots, being very aggressive, then I just wasn't able to close it out,” said Djokovic, who is now looking for his third win at Key Biscayne.
“All the credit to him for staying in the match, fighting and coming back (but) I still think I gave him points. I made so many unforced errors that I got him back to the match,” he added.
Djokovic has a 7-5 record from previous meetings with Murray although the Scot won the most recent in the semifinal in Dubai three weeks ago and also the last time they met in a final — when Djokovic retired in the second set at Cincinnati.
The pair also met in the 2009 Sony Ericsson final with Murray running out 6-2, 7-5 winner and Djokovic knows he can expect a tough encounter in the Florida heat.
“We all know his talent, his potential, and quality,” he said of Murray. “He's dangerous on any surface. Obviously here we played finals in 2009 and I lost in straight sets. He likes the conditions. He likes to play in the heat as well, and has a good serve.
“We kind of play similar, as well. We grew up together. We know each other really well and we have been rivals since and good friends off the court. It's going to be a good match.
“I don't think it's going to affect him that much that he hasn't played today, but we'll see what happens,” he added.
Murray was surprised to be handed a berth in the final, especially since it was his second walkover victory of the tournament. “To be honest, it hasn't really happened to me that often where even one guy has done that,” said Murray, who said he wasn't sure if the extra rest afforded him by Nadal's sore left knee would be good or bad for him come the final.


Clic here to read the story from its source.