Djokovic, Nadal Set For Doha Doubles Showdown
Doha, Qatar
Novak Djokovic eyes doubles success against Rafael Nadal.
Spoiler:
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will face each other on the doubles court for just the second time in their careers in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open semi-finals.
Djokovic and fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic took out third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-3, 7-5 in the quarter-finals, while Nadal and Juan Monaco ousted Benjamin Becker and Artem Sitak 2-6, 6-3, 10-6.
With Nadal’s first-round loss to Michael Berrer, the top two seeds will not be battling for the Doha singles title, but Djokovic is anticipating their doubles encounter.
“Playing [Nadal] in singles so many times, over 40 times we played, I don't think we played maybe once or twice in doubles against each other,” Djokovic said. “It's going to be interesting to play against each other in doubles, which is not the common case for us, but I look forward to that.”
Djokovic has also advanced to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open singles quarter-finals where he will face Ivo Karlovic. Despite the busy playing schedule, the World No. 1 sees the value in doubles practice.
“Filip and I played and won against very good doubles players that play only doubles and they are specialists for the doubles,” Djokovic explained. “So I enjoy it very much. I think it also helps my singles game in terms of serve and return and reaction.”
Djokovic and fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic took out third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 6-3, 7-5 in the quarter-finals, while Nadal and Juan Monaco ousted Benjamin Becker and Artem Sitak 2-6, 6-3, 10-6.
With Nadal’s first-round loss to Michael Berrer, the top two seeds will not be battling for the Doha singles title, but Djokovic is anticipating their doubles encounter.
“Playing [Nadal] in singles so many times, over 40 times we played, I don't think we played maybe once or twice in doubles against each other,” Djokovic said. “It's going to be interesting to play against each other in doubles, which is not the common case for us, but I look forward to that.”
Djokovic has also advanced to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open singles quarter-finals where he will face Ivo Karlovic. Despite the busy playing schedule, the World No. 1 sees the value in doubles practice.
“Filip and I played and won against very good doubles players that play only doubles and they are specialists for the doubles,” Djokovic explained. “So I enjoy it very much. I think it also helps my singles game in terms of serve and return and reaction.”