With his 6-4, 6-4 win over Kei Nishikori Saturday in Delray Beach, Janko Tipsarevic has given himself a chance to capture his first ATP Tour title.
Tipsarevic, ranked 52nd, has the potential to be the second Serb to win a title this week after his countryman, Novak Djokovic, easily beat Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 today in Dubai. Tipsarevic says he has “positive jealousy” when it comes to Djokovic’s success.
“It’s strange, but in a way, apart from me wanting to win today and knowing that I can win, Novak beating Federer made me want to win a little bit more,” he said.
With only one break point against him, Tipsarevic took advantage of his service accuracy throughout the match – an area where Nishikori struggled.
“I think the main difference [in the match] was the serve,” Tipsarevic said. “Kei had to grind for every possible point on his service games.”
Despite getting encouraging texts and voicemails after his semifinal win – including one from Djokovic himself – Tipsarevic knows he’ll be an underdog in tomorrow’s final matchup.
I’m playing against a different kind of player,” he said of No. 16 Fish and former No. 4 Del Potro, “but the main thing is, I need to try to focus and not to overplay. The most stupid thing I could do is think that now that I’m playing a more experienced player that I have to do something special or something extra to beat him.”
After Serbia’s historic Davis Cup win in December, the team of Tipsarevic, Djokovic, Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic have remained close, contacting each other “every second or third day.” Tipsarevic credits the team win with his positive attitude heading into 2011.
“Davis Cup influenced my preseason really well,” he said. “I was practicing really hard, and the most important thing is that I was really happy. Coming to preseason happy really makes it easier.”
Even with his rosy outlook, he admits to having a few “stupid” losses so far this year. In addition to losing to Xavier Malisse in Chennai after being up a set and a break, he also lost to Fernando Verdasco in the Australian Open second round after blowing three match points.