• Djokovic continues Halle bid against Serra

  6/10/09 11:34 PM | Ricky Dimon
  Novak Djokovic and Florent Serra will do battle on Wednesday afternoon in Halle, Germany. A spot in the Gerry Weber Open quarterfinals is on the line.
  
  It will be the third career encounter between Novak Djokovic and Florent Serra when the two players square off in the second round of the Gerry Weber Open on Wednesday. However, they have not met since 2007 and none of the previous two head-to-head clashes was on grass. Serra prevailed three seasons ago in Cincinnati before Djokovic got revenge a year later in Rotterdam.
  
  Djokovic, of course, has soared since those two meetings. He is a Grand Slam champion (2008 Australian Open) and a staple in the top four of the world rankings. This season has been no different for the Serb. Djokovic finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal in both Monte-Carlo and Rome and he had three match points against the top-ranked Spaniard in the Madrid semifinals. He also won titles in Dubai and Belgrade.
  
  Serra, ranked 56th in the world, is a solid 15-15 at the ATP level in 2009. Highlights include quarterfinal appearances in Brisbane, Delray Beach, and Estoril, and a runner-up finish in Casablanca (l. to Juan Carlos Ferrero). The veteran Frenchman kicked off his Halle campaign with a three-set victory over Dudi Sela, while Djokovic dispatched Simone Bolelli in straight sets.
  
  Although Serra is capable on grass and Djokovic is by no means a grass-court specialist, Serra would probably prefer to play this one on a slower surface. The favorite's more powerful style and stellar all-court prowess should be far too much for Serra on the fast stuff. Djokovic in straight sets is the pick.