Novak Djokovic has booked his place within the final 4 of the ATP Finals with a crushing 6-4 6-1 defeat of Andrey Rublev on the Turin showpiece.
After the primary 9 video games went with serve, Djokovic switched on the after-burners to outclass Rublev on Wednesday.
In the late Red Group conflict, Stefanos Tsitsipas triumphed 6-3 6-7 (11-13) 7-6 (7-1) in a two hour 21-minute battle over Daniil Medvedev in one of many matches of the season.
Tsitsipas stored on monitor to turn out to be the eleventh participant to win a number of ATP Finals titles after triumphing on debut on the prestigious year-end occasion in 2019, defeating Dominic Thiem within the decider.
In the eleventh chapter of their longstanding rivalry, it was Tsitsipas who prevailed in an exciting topsy-turvy conflict that swayed a method after which the opposite on the Pala Alpitour.
The 24-year-old squandered three match factors within the second set, earlier than he regained his focus, rallying from 3-5 within the third set to ultimately enhance to 4-7 in his head-to-head sequence in opposition to Medvedev.
“It was very tiring out there,” Tsitsipas mentioned after his Tour-leading 61st victory of the season.
“I’m so glad I overcame this and I was able to enjoy it with the crowd. It’s a great win and I’m extremely proud of the way I fought.
“It was nice to get again into the match, I felt reborn, and what a good way to finish it.”
The second-seed will face another Russian in Rublev on Friday in a winner-takes-all clash, with a spot in the semi-finals at stake as both players are now at 1-1.
Rublev, who like Djokovic had won his opening match at the year-ender, capitulated when serving to stay in the opener, losing the set as Djokovic thumped a backhand return winner.
The second set was a non-event as the five-time champion roared to victory in little more than an hour.
“I performed considered one of my greatest matches of the yr,” Djokovic, who was watched for the first time by both his children Stefan and Tara,” mentioned on court docket.
“I found the right attitude and the right game and once I won the first set his energy went down.
“In the second set I simply needed to make use of that momentum and it was a flawless second set.”
Despite being guaranteed a place in the weekend’s semis when Djokovic will hope to equal Roger Federer’s record at the ATP’s season-ender with a sixth title, the 35-year-old Serb said he will not be relaxing against Medvedev.
“It will not simply be a stroll within the park,” he mentioned.
“Knowing I’m within the semis it is an important increase however on the identical time I wish to deal with each match.”
If 21-time grand slam champion Djokovic wins the title this week he would be the oldest participant ever to attain the feat.
