Djokovic rallies into Qatar Open quarters after one set down

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-03 08:44:59|Editor: Xiaoxia

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(SP)QATAR-DOHA-TENNIS-QATAR OPEN ?

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after the singles second round match against Marton Fucsovics of Hungary at the ATP Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, capital of Qatar, Jan. 2, 2019. Djokovic won 2-1. (Xinhua/Nikku)

DOHA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic came back from a set down to beat world No. 36, Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, advancing into the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.

It took the world No. 1 exactly two hours, which was twice as long as the Serb spent on court in his first round stroll against Damir Dzumhur, where he lost just three games, to triumph 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

"For the first two sets he was the better player," said Djokovic, two-time Qatar Open champion. "He played really well, smart, changing up the rhythm and the pace of the ball and moving me around.

Djokovic will play fifth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in the quarterfinals after the Georgian beat Russia's Andrey Rublev, the 2018 runner-up, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.

If he wins his last eight match, Djokovic is on course to meet Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals after the Swiss also won on Wednesday, beating Chile's Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Wawrinka plays Spain's Roberto Batista Agut in the quarterfinals.