Exhibition tennis match dey hot as Novak Djokovic and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard dey lock horns for court. Djokovic slide for im forehand side and lob the Frenchman at full stretch, but Mpetshi Perricard no gree give up, attempt tweener wey no succeed.
Annabel Croft, former British number one, talk say Mpetshi Perricard do well to survive that game. She note say the Frenchman dey hard to read because of im calmness and self-control as e dey walk around court.
Mpetshi Perricard come through first challenge to im serve, saving two break points before deuce. E force backhand error to save first break point and neutralise passing shot before Djokovic put backhand net.
Djokovic trap Mpetshi Perricard behind baseline and approach net to force unsuccessful lob. But Frenchman pull point back before consecutive groundstroke errors hand Djokovic two break points.
Djokovic zoom into 40-0 lead but place forehand volley into tramlines as e go for one-two punch. E opt for same set-up next point and succeed.
Annabel Croft yarn say if Mpetshi Perricard keep holding serve, once e reach 4-4 again, pressure go dey on Djokovic. With Djokovic trailing set, e go get fascinating.
Djokovic shoulder slump as Mpetshi Perricard forehand whistle past. Another swift hold to 15. Greg Rusedski, the Frenchman coach, dey beam for im box.
Croft observe say Djokovic look miffed out there. E dey calm at start of first set, but now im demeanour dey ramp up and e look irritated.
Djokovic, with fury for face, spend third game of second set trying to hit fluff off ball and hold serve. Mpetshi Perricard open im racquet for forehand drop shot from deep court. Kick serve with ferocious bounce bring up 40-0 and Djokovic thrash wildly at another big serve.
Djokovic receive unlucky bounce deep court and groan as e shank forehand for 30-all. But e make no mistake next point, crashing cross-court forehand winner. E puffs out cheeks as Mpetshi Perricard hit forehand into tramlines.
Mpetshi Perricard open second set with forehand winner. Crowd love am. Croft talk say e couldn’t have played more perfect set of tennis. E dey chase scoreline throughout but brilliant, calm to serve out set.
Sealed with ace! Mpetshi Perricard take first set 7-5. E work for am, failing to convert three break points before finally break for lengthy 11th game. Show no nerves when serving for set. On serve, e only give up six points so far.
With ace out wide, Mpetshi Perricard bring up two set points. Croft talk say e dey impressive and the way e hang in there and bound back give am another chance. Djokovic challenge one-handed backhand but e stand up to test.
This time Mpetshi Perricard break! After lengthy baseline exchange, e unleash brutal forehand down line. Djokovic root to spot opposite corner. Mpetshi Perricard go serve for first set.
Break point number four. Drama. Djokovic first serve on advantage called wide. E disagree and chair umpire overrule call, ball clearly kiss line. Djokovic argue about whether call impede Mpetshi Perricard. Umpire say e did. Grumpily, e return to baseline and save third break point thanks to forehand error from Frenchman.
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