This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, world number one Novak Djokovic showcased his exceptional tennis skills at the Japan Open, securing a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lucas Pouille of France in the quarterfinal match.
With a commanding display, Djokovic overwhelmed Pouille, unleashing a barrage of powerful and precise shots that left his opponent struggling to keep up.
"I am not a machine. But I did play like one today," Djokovic said in a post-match interview, highlighting his impressive performance.
The victory marked a significant milestone in Djokovic's swift recovery from a left shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from the US Open.
Throughout the match, Djokovic demonstrated his dominance, nailing eight aces and committing no double faults while collecting points on 82 percent of his successful first serves.
After cruising through the first set, Djokovic stepped up his game, taking four consecutive games in the second set and denying Pouille any further opportunities to break.
The match was the third encounter between the two players this year, with Djokovic emerging victorious in all three meetings.
Elsewhere in the Tokyo tournament, John Millman of Australia defeated Japanese wild card Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-0, while American player Reilly Opelka beat Japanese qualifier Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 6-3.
