Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Thursday 19 april 2018

Djokovic needs

10 match points HOME STAND

to reach 3rd

round in Monaco

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
MONACO (AP) — Novak
Djokovic and defending
champion Rafael Nadal
needed a combined 14
match points to reach the
third round of the Monte
Carlo Masters on Wednes-
day. After Djokovic finally
converted his 10th match
point to beat Borna Coric
7-6 (2) 7-5, Nadal required
four in a 6-1, 6-3 win against
Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-3.
Djokovic first missed two
match points with Coric
serving at 5-3, then wasted
another seven in a mara-
thon game when serving
for the match. The ninth-
seeded Serb took a 40-0
lead in that game, but
then hit one backhand
long, another backhand
wide, before an unforced
error into the net.
At deuce, Coric success-
fully overturned a call
to get a break point but
Djokovic saved it with an
ace. Djokovic won the
next point to set up match
point No. 6, but again hit a
backhand wide.
An ace gave him a seventh
chance, but Coric saved
that one after Djokovic
failed to retrieve his drop
shot. Another ace made it
No. 8, but Djokovic’s tame
forehand allowed Coric an Lindor’s shot helps
easy forehand winner.
On try No. 9, a poor back-
hand from Djokovic went Indians top Twins 6-1
into the net.
Coric finally broke to make
it 5-5, but Djokovic broke Cleveland Indians’ infielder Francisco Lindor
straight back and the celebrates a home run against the Minnesota Twins
10th match point did the during the fifth inning of game one of a two-game
trick with Coric sending a MLB Series at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan,
backhand long. Djokovic Puerto Rico, Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
hugged Coric at the net Associated Press
and then patted his oppo- Page 19
nent on the cheek.
“I could see him coming
into the court really believ-
ing he can win the match.

Continued on Page 18