DOHA, Jan 4: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won another gruelling battle in Doha to continue his unbeaten start to the year and progress to the Qatar Open semifinals.
The Serb came from a set down, just like in his previous match, to beat Georgia�s Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match lasting almost two hours.
Djokovic will play Spain�s Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday�s semifinal, who beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
�I feel I have a gear or two (to go) up still,� said Djokovic.
�Under the circumstances I managed to find a way to win against a player that is hitting the ball very fast and just being very aggressive and it�s hard to predict where the ball is going to go with a player like him.�
It was the first time Djokovic has won back-to-back matches from a set down since Cincinnati in August last year, a tournament he went on to win.
As on the previous evening, where he struggled against Hungary�s Marton Fucsovics, the Serb started slowly.
He lost his first service game and never recovered the break as Basilashvili, the number five seed, powered by a blistering forehand took the first set.
However, Djokovic�s fortunes changed in the second set when he broke the Georgian in the fifth game and slowly took control of the match. � AFP
