Djokovic extends streak to 27-0 at China Open

BEIJING, AP:

Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 27 matches at the China Open with a 6-2, 6-2 win over John Isner yesterday to secure a place in the semi-finals.

The top-ranked Djokovic has never lost a match at the tournament, and his victory over the big-serving American means he has won 23 consecutive sets.

Relying on his outstanding return, Djokovic restricted Isner to just three aces. He didn't face a break point and only dropped nine points on his own serve.

"Conditions didn't help him, didn't help his serve," Djokovic said. "I was feeling like I can get a lot of balls back in play and make him move, which was one of the intentions tactically in order to be successful today."

Djokovic moved into a semi-final match against fourth-seeded David Ferrer, who beat wild-card entry Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 6-1 to join fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the last four.

Third-seeded Nadal reached his first hard-court semi-final of the year by outlasting Jack Sock of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

After dropping serve twice in the opening set, Nadal only faced one more break point, which he saved.