In a thrilling encounter at the Paris Masters, world number one Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to a record-extending seventh crown. The Serbian superstar outlasted a resilient Andrey Rublev in a three-set battle, eventually prevailing 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5.
The first set saw Djokovic break Rublev’s serve early on, only to lose his own serve immediately afterwards. The Russian then took control, dictating the pace with his powerful groundstrokes. Rublev’s dominance paid off as he took the first set.
However, Djokovic refused to give up. He raised his game in the second set, especially in the tiebreak, where he unleashed accurate serves and powerful forehands to level the match. Despite battling a lower back problem, Djokovic’s determination carried him through.
The deciding set was a tense affair, with both players showing their skills. The turning point came when Rublev committed a costly double fault, giving Djokovic the crucial break and ultimately the match.
Djokovic acknowledged the difficulty of the match and praised Rublev’s performance. He expressed his satisfaction with his fighting spirit, which has taken him to 17 consecutive victories since his loss at Wimbledon to Carlos Alcaraz.
In the other semi-final, Grigor Dimitrov produced a sensational performance to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Bulgarian showed some of his best tennis in the deciding set, securing just his second win against Tsitsipas in eight matches. His emotional celebration highlighted the importance of this hard-fought victory.
Dimitrov, now the sixth unseeded finalist in the last eight years in Paris, expressed his joy and gratitude. He acknowledged the ups and downs of his recent journey, stressing that each win has greater meaning and significance for him.
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