With a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday, five-time champion Novak Djokovic easily advanced to the ATP Finals' final four.
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In the Turin showpiece on Wednesday, Novak Djokovic crushed Russian Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1 to secure his spot in the ATP Finals’ top four. Djokovic turned on the gas to defeat Rublev after the opening nine games were all served. When serving to remain in the first set, Rublev, who like Djokovic had won his initial match at the year-ender, gave up and dropped the set as Djokovic blasted a backhand return winner. As five-time champion Djokovic swept to victory in just over an hour, the second set was a non-event.
“As his children Tara and Stefan watched him play for the first time, Djokovic stated, “I played one of my finest matches of the year.” Once I won the first set, “I found the right mentality and the proper game, and once I did, his energy went down,” I simply wanted to use that momentum in the second set, and it was a flawless second set.”
Although Djokovic, 35, is assured a spot in the weekend’s semi-finals where he will attempt to match Roger Federer’s record for titles at the ATP’s season-ending event, the Serb said he will not be taking it easy against Medvedev on Friday. At the competition, Djokovic hopes to match Roger Federer’s record of six victories. His most recent triumph was in 2015. Stefanos Tsitsipas was defeated by Djokovic in the players’ opening contest. Later, Tsitsipas faced Daniil Medvedev, who had also dropped his Red Group opener.
Top-seeded After suffering his second defeat in the competition on Tuesday, Rafael Nadal was eliminated, while Casper Ruud advanced to the semifinals. On Thursday, Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime will face off, with the winner securing the other semifinal spot from the Green Group.
