Djoko steps closer to 100th career trophy

Novak Djokovic notched up a quarter-final win on Friday to move closer to his 100th career title.

A day after rival Rafael Nadal announced the end of his career for November, the Serb needed a fightback to overcome a Czech challenge from Jakub Mensik, earning a 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4.

“We went toe-to-toe until the last moment,” Djokovic said as he reached a record 77th Masters 1000 semi-final. 

“I was fortunate to find great serves in the last game, a couple of aces, that helps. I didn’t serve that well at the end of the first set when I was serving for it. 

“He managed to turn things around by playing a good tie-break.”

The 37-year-old with the all-time best of 24 Grand Slam singles titles added: ““I stayed collected and started off very well in the second.

“We both had a physical crisis at the beginning of the set. We pushed each other a lot, a lot of long rallies. [It was] a tough battle, almost two and a half hours.”

Djokovic moved through into the final four in just over two and a quarter-hours.
and will next face seventh seed Taylor Fritz, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over retiring Belgian David Goffin.

Djokovci said he had his hands full in his quarter-final: “I haven’t trained with him (Mensik) for a year and a half, so I could see today why he is one of the best servers we have in the game,” 

“He’s only 19, the future is very bright for him. He knows that I am always there for him, whatever he needs.

Djokovic now stands 36-8 on the season,