Djokovic stuns Japan Open with machine-like tennis

TOKYO: World number one Novak Djokovic on Friday put on a stunning show of supremacy at the Japan Open with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lucas Pouille of France.

The Serb overwhelmed his opponent in the quarterfinal match, showering Pouille with a barrage of powerful, precision shots to deep, wide corners mixed with delicate drop shots.

“I am not a machine. But I did play like one today,” he said after their 50-minute contest. “This was one of the best matches I played this year. Very, very pleased with the way I feel and played on the court,” said Djokovic.

“I am looking forward to another battle tomorrow, hopefully I will be able to keep up with this quality of tennis.”

In the semifinals, Djokovic will face 2017 Japan Open champion David Goffin of Belgium, who also comfortably defeated Chung Hyeon of South Korea 6-2, 6-2.

Djokovic’s latest victory provided further evidence of his swift recovery from a left shoulder injury that caused him to pull out of the US Open.

The Japan Open is the first competition for Djokovic since the incident. He nailed eight aces and never committed double fault while collecting points on 82 percent of his successful first serves.

After cruising through the first set, Djokovic stepped up his tennis and began the second set by taking four games straight.

Pouille fought back to keep the fifth game and in the sixth game, he collected his only break of the match.

But Djokovic denied any other attempt by the French challenger, who was able to survive only one of seven break points.

It was the third meeting between the two men this year. Djokovic won all of them.

In the rest of the Tokyo tournament, qualifier John Millman of Australia defeated Japanese wild card Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-0. The winner will face American player Reilly Opelka, who beat Japanese qualifier Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 6-3, in the semifinals.