Novak Djokovic admitted he was “really glad” to overcome the Stefanos Tsitsipas challenge in Paris.
In the Paris Masters semifinal, Djokovic edged out Tsitsipas 6-2 3-6 7-6 (4) to reach his eighth final at Bercy.
“It’s very sweet, obviously, when you win matches like this against one of the best players in the world. I thought I started the match very well, again, great hitting like yesterday in the quarters. I had chances early on in the second [twice at 30/30], I didn’t break his serve. The momentum shifted, the crowd got into it. I think he elevated his level of tennis. Deservedly so, we went into ā both of us ā into an even battle all the way until the last point, until the last shot. Some incredible points towards the end. I’m just really glad to overcome this challenge,” Djokovic said after the match, per the ATP website.
How Djokovic defeated Tsitsipas?
No breaks were seen in the first four games of the match as the two players were tied to two games apiece at the start of the match.
Then, Djokovic claimed back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to win the first set in style.
After winning the first set, Djokovic routinely served out the opening game of the second set.
Djokovic, who was on a run of five consecutive, also had 0-30 on Tsitsipas’ serve in the second game.
Tsitsipas managed to serve out the second game to end Djokovic’s run of five consecutive games, before breaking the Serb in the fifth and ninth games to send the match into a decider.
In the third set, no breaks were seen, even though Djokovic had four break points – two in the third game and two more in the ninth game.
In the tie-break, Tsitsipas claimed a mini-break in the seventh point to open a 4-3 lead.
Djokovic responded by winning the next four games to earn a tight three-set win.
On Sunday, Djokovic will be playing Holger Rune for his seventh Paris title.