Novak Djokovic, Olga Danilovic edge out Chinese pair in key mixed doubles match

Novak Djokovic has helped Serbia clinch its first win at this year’s United Cup after he and Olga Danilovic won a key mixed doubles match against China’s Zheng Qinwen and Zheng Zhizhan. 

On Sunday, Djokovic ousted Zhang 6-3 6-2 in the opening match of the Serbia and China tie. In the following match, Zheng managed to get China back in contention after beating Danilovic 6-4 6-2. 

With Serbia and China tied to one win apiece, their tie headed into the deciding mixed doubles match. Although it was a close contest, Danilovic and Djokovic managed to come out on top to beat Zheng and Zhang in three sets 6-4 1-6 10-6 and get Serbia off to a winning start in Perth.

How Danillovic and Djokovic beat Zheng and Zhang?

No break points were seen until the seventh game, when Danilovic and Djokovic realized their first break point to go 4-3 up. After claiming the opening break of the match, Danilovic and Djokovic faced pressure on their service in the eighth game but they managed to save three break points and open a 5-3 lead.

In the ninth game, Danilovic and Djokovic had three set points on Zheng and Zhang’s service – but they didn’t convert any of them. Serving for the first set in the 10th game, Danilovic and Djokovic had to fight hard as the Serbian duo saved three break points before realizing their fourth set point to win the opener. 

After losing the first set, Zheng and Zhang impressively bounced back at the start of the second set, earning back-to-back breaks and taking a comfortable 5-0 lead. Danilovic and Djokovic served out the sixth game to avoid a bagel but it didn’t change much as Zheng and Zhang realized their first set point on their serve in the following game. 

Through the first six points of the match tie-break, the two pairs were tied to three points apiece. Then, Danilovic and Djokovic won the next four points to open a 7-3 lead. After the opening 13 points, Danilovic and Djokovic had a 9-4 lead and five consecutive match points. Zheng and Zhang managed to save the first two match points but they couldn’t save the third as Danilovic and Djokovic completed a win and led Serbia to their opening United Cup win in Perth.