TURIN: Novak Djokovic is through to his first ATP Finals title match since 2018 and the eighth overall. Novak defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6, 7-6 in an hour and 54 minutes to remain undefeated in Turin and set the title clash against Casper Ruud or Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic toppled Fritz for the sixth time in as many encounters, recovering from yesterday's marathon against Daniil Medvedev and staying on the title course. Fritz fired 15 aces but struggled on his second serve. Still, he stayed in touch with a 21-time Major winner in both sets, leading 5-3 in the second but failing to force a decider.
Both players scored two breaks of serve, and Novak claimed 11 points more, having the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges. Djokovic broke at love in the opener's fifth game to build the lead before Fritz stroked back in the next one to level the score at 3-3.
The servers were too strong in the rest of the set to introduce a tie break. Novak stayed calm in the closing stages and fired a forehand down the line winner at 6-5 to wrap up the set and gain a boost.
Taylor grabbed an early break in the second set and served well to forge a 5-3 advantage. Djokovic held from 30-0 down in the ninth game and broke back in the next one to lock the result at 5-5. The Serb played better in the tie break and converted the second match point at 7-6 after the American's loose forehand that pushed him into the final.
Andrey Rublev beat 2nd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in his last group match. Agencies
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