Carlos Alcaraz faces Djokovic in semis after finishing as group topper

TURIN: Carlos Alcaraz topped the Red Group with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Daniil Medvedev on Friday in Turin to set up a blockbuster semifinal clash with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in his maiden ATP Finals campaign.

World No. 2 Alcaraz needed a win over 2020 champion Medvedev to ensure a semifinal spot without depending on the outcome of the final group-stage match between Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev.

Medvedev, who finished second in the group, will be up against local favourite and Green Group topper Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal.

On the otherhand, Jannik Sinner wrapped a perfect round-robin stage at the prestigious season finale on Thursday night by downing Holger Rune 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. In doing so, he also ensured that six-time champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic progressed to the semi-finals alongside him.

Sinner backed up his opening wins against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Djokovic with a courageous third performance of the week inside the Pala Alpitour, converting two of four break points he earned to register a two-hour, 33-minute triumph in a match that swung back and forth.

“For me it was really important, resetting after the good win against Novak,” said Sinner. “I never won against [Rune], so I really tried my best. I started off really well. In the second, he served better, he moved better, so it was a much more even match. The third set could have gone his way. At 4-3 I saved a break point. It was a little bit of a roller coaster today, but obviously really happy and happy to be in the semis.” Agencies

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