Madrid - ATP round of sixteen

The men’s round of sixteen was contested in Madrid, and the top seeds involved were successful.

Mutua Madrid Open - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Red Clay, in Madrid, Spain,  4-11 May 2019.

Defending champion:

Alexander Zverev (2) who defeated Dominic Thiem (5) 6-4 6-4

Round of sixteen:

- Novak Djokovic (1) v Jeremy Chardy 

Djokovic had met Chardy on twelve occasions previously, winning all,of them, including twice last year, at Queens Club and Shanghai.

The world number one served first, and did so to love, a forehand winner and a second serve ace included. Chardy was trailing 15-40, following a pair of French errors and an unreal angled backhand pass from Djokovic. An ace saved one break point, and after a long rally, Chardy hit a terrific backhand forcing a Djokovic error. Deuce. Chardy had a game point but it vanished once his backhand hit the net, and a third break point arrived when the Frenchman’s forehand landed long. Another forehand error cost Chardy and Djokovic led 2-0.

The top seed consolidated, a backhand winner down the line and a winning forehand enough to counter a couple of unforced errors. 3-0.

Chardy led 30-0 but it was insufficient to stop Djokovic, who patiently waited for a mistake from his opponent, which eventuated, then drilled a backhand down the line to reach 30-30. Another forehand missed the court, and a double fault confirmed a second break of the Chardy serve. 4-0.

Surprisingly, Djokovic found himself down 0-40, all points derived from Serbian mistakes. The three break points were saved, a forehand winner, a big serve, and another forehand winner, bringing it to deuce. A third and fourth winning forehand for the game, gave Djokovic a 5-0 advantage.

Serving for the set at 5-1, Djokovic won a free point first up with a good serve, then Chardy ripped a forehand return past the Serbian racquet. 30-15 after Djokovic delivered a forehand winner, and 30-30 with his forehand failing. Set point came after a masterful drop shot, and Chardy missed with a backhand, ending the set 6-1 for Djokovic.

For nine games of set two it was a servers paradise. Chardy won 20 of 26 points on his serve to that point, while Djokovic won 16 of 20 on his serve.

Game ten was difficult for the top seed as he served to stay in the set. A double fault for 15-15, then a wild backhand wayoff the mark for 15-30. Excellent play from Chardy forced an error from Djokovic and a set point for Chardy arose. Squashed by a quality Djokovic serve. A game point for Djokovic came and went but the Serbian champion ultimately held on:and levelled at 5-5.

A tie break was required.

Djokovic won the first point which was against the Chardy serve. The next six points went to serve and Djokovic led 5-2. Chardy was at the line and needed desperately to win the next two points. He didn’t  - a forehand missed everything and presented Djokovic with four match points. A forehand winner from Serbia finished the match.

Novak Djokovic won 6-1 7-6(2).

- Marin Cilic (9) defeated Laslo Djere 4-6 6-3 6-2

- Roger Federer (3) defeated Gaël Monfils (15) 6-0 4-6 7-6(3)

- Dominic Thiem (5) defeated Fabio Fognini (10) 6-4 7-5

- Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4

- Alexander Zverev (3) defeated qualifier Herbert Hurkacz 3-6 6-4 6-4

- Stan Wawrinka defeated Kei Nishikori (6) 6-3 7-6(3)

- Rafa Nadal (2) defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-4

Quarter final match ups 

Novak Djokovic (1) v Marin Cilic (9)

Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3)

Stan Wawrinka v Rafa Nadal (2)