Novak Djokovic has battled to a three-hour victory over Daniil Medvedev to stay unbeaten on the ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic was already assured to prime the group and play Taylor Fritz within the semi-finals on Saturday however he dug deep to keep away from defeat, finishing a 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 7-6 (7-2) victory after three hours and 11 minutes.
The 35-year-old was clearly struggling bodily late within the second set and into the third and Medvedev served for the match at 5-4 within the decider, however Djokovic discovered a means again.
The Serbian instructed Amazon Prime Video: “Daniil and I had some battles in the past and I knew coming into the match today it’s going to be his last match of the season and he is definitely not going to want to finish the season with a loss.
“I began off very properly, had my probabilities early within the second. He simply performed very properly in these decisive moments. I did not really feel bodily so properly within the third set to be trustworthy, I struggled so much staying bodily there.
“I’m really proud of being able to find that last drop of energy and necessary focus in order to come back into the match.
“This match in opposition to one of many best rivals I’ve at present was essential whatever the truth I’d certified already and I actually wished to win.”
Medvedev, who won the title in 2020 and reached the final again last year, leaves Turin having lost each of his three group matches in deciding tie-breaks.
In the late game, Andrey Rublev produced a stunning come-from-behind victory to down Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the last four.
Tsitsipas came out firing to dominate the first set, pouncing on a shallow ball from Rublev to crush a forehand winner for the early break and a 3-1 lead as the fiery Russian’s temper began to boil over.
The Greek claimed the set when Rublev failed to put one of his second serves into play and it appeared the Russian might go quietly from there.
Instead, Rublev cut down on the errors in the second set and let out a mighty roar when he broke Tsitsipas for a 5-3 lead.
Rublev saved a break point in the next game and held his fist up high when Tsitsipas’ forehand went wide to level the contest at a set apiece.
From there it was Tsitsipas who struggled to keep his composure as Rublev continued to apply pressure, breaking for 2-1 in the third set and again for 5-2 on back-to-back double faults by the world No.3.
“I simply saved telling myself to maintain preventing, preserve enjoying, and we’ll see what occurs,” Rublev stated.
“I used to be blissful that I used to be mentally sturdy at present and I used to be capable of flip the match round as a result of Stef to start with was hitting tremendous arduous, hitting so many forehand winners.”
Next up for Rublev is a semi-final against Norway’s Casper Ruud.
A straight 7-6 7-6 defeat for doubles pair Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis to Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic paved the way for Britons Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski to face each other in the semi-finals.
Liverpool’s Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof, who beat Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, are top seeds but would have exited had the Australians prevailed.
Instead they are going to now face Salisbury and his American accomplice Rajeev Ram in a rematch of the US Open last.
