Novak Djokovic of Serbia lunges to return a forehand to Alejandro Gonzalez of Colombia during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 11, 2014 in Indian Wells, California. PHOTO: AFP
Djokovic, the world number two and second seed, defeated world number 91 Gonzalez 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, but said he’ll have to play better in the fourth round against Cilic.
“I thought I played really well from the start,” said Djokovic, who lifted the trophy in the California desert in 2008 and 2011.
“Then suddenly I just had a big loss of concentration and allowed him to win the second set for no reason. At the end of the day, a win is a win. I have to try to look on the positive side and get myself ready for the next one.”
He knows Cilic, who beat 16th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-3, will be a dangerous opponent. Cilic, the 24th seed, won five straight games to win the first set and take a 3-0 lead in the second.
The former top-10 player has lost only once in his last 17 matches, to Tomas Berdych in the final at Rotterdam. “I obviously cannot allow myself to have these particular concentration lapses in the match at this level,” Djokovic said. “Especially in the next match when I’m playing Cilic, a guy who is in really good form and I think has gotten better in last couple of months.”
Li to face-off with Cibulkova in quarters
Li Na needed 11 match points to put away Aleksandra Wozniak on Tuesday and book an Indian Wells clash with Dominika Cibulkova, the woman she beat in the Australian Open final.
China’s Li defeated Canada’s Wozniak 6-1, 6-4 to secure her quarter-final berth.
All 11 of Li’s match points came in the final game, with two break points for Wozniak mixed in.
“Welcome to the crazy women’s tennis tour,” Li said. “The funny thing is, beginning of the game I was feeling tight, nervous, and then I was feeling like what’s going on? Why can’t I finish the match?
“But she never gave up, she tried to defend every point. Yeah, it was a little bit tedious in the last game.” “At least I’m still in the tournament,” Li said. “I still can smile.”
Cibulkova defeated eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2, and Li said she wouldn’t be taking anything for granted against the Slovak.
“Last win (against her) doesn’t mean anything because I see she played well here. For me it’s always a tough match to play against her.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2014.
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