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Once again, Beijing got the best out of the No.1

Even though Isner regularly took Djokovic into at least one tiebreak per match, this time he was left at four games. Ferrer earned his last win over Novak four years ago. Even though he is also in a winning run, it is likely he will also only be collecting games against Novak playing this well

Official statistics say that Isner won 80% of first serve points this season. Only Raonic and Karlovic have better percentage, and Federer and Muller are at the same percentage. The American will drop on that list next week because he won only 50% of first serve points against Djokovic. World's top player proved once again that Beijing gets the best out of him. He always had problems on the return against Isner. After all, we have seen at least one tiebreak in all of their nine head-to-head matches. This time six-feet-tall player from Florida was left with only four games. 

Isner opened the match with 40 to love on his serve, but Djokovic took a break in that same game. After that he missed a break point, in the next game, but he made a break again for 5-2 lead. The American couldn't recover in the second set either. He lost his serve twice again. Novak won half of the return points. With that, he won four out of five break points, and he didn't give away a single one. He defeated the dangerous opponent in only 52 minutes, so he lost only nine games in three matches. Of course, his great run in Beijing has continued, as has his path towards sixth back-to-back title. 

- It was a great match on my part. Isner hit 85% of first serve in the first set, but a made two breaks. I think that says enough. The return worked great and, of course, it was the key for the win - Djokovic had a lot to be happy about, but there was some room for modesty:

- The conditions weren't ideal for him. With that, I really felt powerful on the court. I had the feeling that I can catch and return every ball. And my tactic was to attack as often as possible. I did that in the best way possible. 

Ferrer is on a smaller but envious winning run. After New York, he whom both Davis Cup matches in Denmark, and then won Kuala Lumpur. The finalists of the last week's two tournaments were eliminated early this week, three of them, but the Spaniard continued his winning run. Like Novak, he won three matches in straight sets here. 

After Rosol, who served for the first set, the Spaniard didn't have as much problems in the quarter-final. Even though he had some bad experiences against Lu, the player from Tai Pei kept up here only at the start of the match. After initial testing of powers, after 3-3 in the first set, Lu won only one more game until the end of the match. The Spaniard made a winning run of 8 games. He also served for 6-0 in the second set, but Lu won his honorary game. Ferrer could have won even faster. He used only five of the 16 break point chances. 

- It was difficult, even though the result doesn't show that - Ferrer started modest as always and then continued:

- He had his chances in the first set, four break points I think. He didn't use them and I won the set. That might be the reason he lost his concentration in the second set, so it was easier. As far as my performance is concerned, I am pleased. I played consistently and I am in another semi-final.

Ferrer announced that he wants to secure London as soon as possible and he is doing well so far, but this will probably be the end of the road for him, at least in Beijing. He faced Djokovic twice this year, and Novak won in straight sets both times. Last year there were also two wins by the Serbian players. The last time Ferrer defeated him was in 2011, at the final tournament when Djokovic seemed drained. Isner regularly parried him and he won only four games here. Things are not looking good for the Spaniard.