ATP Dubai: What we learned from Jiri Vesely
Jiri Vesely is playing for the finals at the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Dubai today. The Czech's success against Novak Djokovic showed one thing above all: courage is rewarded.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 25, 2022, 06:20 am
The tenth game of the second set between Jiri Vesely and Novak Djokovic on Thursday in Dubai had the potential to become the turning point. Vesely was already serving to win the match, initially fending off some of Djokovic's break chances, but then had to accept the equalizer. These are usually the moments when the industry leader thanks you for the resistance - and then pulls a match you thought you had lost to your side.
Not so against Vesely. Now Djokovic was certainly warned: You don't just win against Roberto Bautista Agut 6: 4 and 6: 2 like the Czech did in the round of 16. Especially not when the Spaniard had come to Dubai with the momentum of winning a tournament in Doha. But the fact that Jiri Vesely is so consistent in his offensive game must have surprised Djokovic as well.
Vesely also wins second meeting with Djokovic
Because Vesely remained one thing above all after every small setback: courageous. The left-hander also had to accept a re-break in the first round, but Vesely attacked at every opportunity and used the stop boldly and often. First and foremost, he wanted to keep the rallies short, said the surprise semi-finalist, who is allowed to play against Denis Shapovalov today, after his win. Also the following: He beat Djokovic in the only game so far, in 2016 on clay in Monte Carlo. But he never expected that he would succeed a second time.
So was it the courage of desperation that drove Jiri Vesely to victory? Maybe. There are supposed to be opponents who write off a meeting with Novak Djokovic as lost before the game starts, that was not the case with Vesely. On good days, the now 28-year-old also has weapons that can hurt any opponent: Above all, the serve is a pound, especially from the advantage side to the outside.
So what have we learned? It helps to be brave against the big stars. Even if you suddenly have something to lose. Just like Jiri Vesely at the end of the second set against Novak Djokovic.