Novak Djokovic is through to his 72nd Masters 1000 semi-final following a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Hubert Hurkacz in Madrid. Novak needed an hour and 21 minutes to dismiss the Pole and advance into the last four, where he plays against Rafael Nadal or Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic toppled Hurkacz for the fourth time in as many encounters, taming his strokes nicely and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Serb dropped 13 points in ten service games, never facing a break point and mounting the pressure on the other side. Hurkacz made too many errors and failed to follow the rival’s pace, struggling on the second serve and getting broken once in each set to propel world no. 1 through. A former champion held at love in the encounter’s opening game and created a break chance in the next one after Hubert’s double fault. The Pole sprayed a backhand error to experience an early setback and fall 2-0 behind.
Novak Djokovic defeated Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets.
Novak took four straight points in the third game and closed it after a loose forehand from his opponent for 3-0. Hurkacz got his name on the scoreboard with a booming serve in game four, and Djokovic wrapped up the next one with a forehand down the line winner for 4-1 in 20 minutes. The Pole held at 15 in game six to stay in touch before the Serb grabbed the next one at love with a forehand winner for 5-2. Hubert clinched the eighth game with a service winner, and Novak served for the opener. World no. 1 fired a service winner for 6-3 in 33 minutes, hoping for more of the same in set number two. Hurkacz defended a break point with a drop shot winner in the second set’s opening game and brought the game home to avoid chasing the result. Djokovic grabbed the second game with a service winner before his rival claimed the next one for 2-1.
Producing one good hold after another, Novak landed an unreturned serve in the fourth game to lock the result at 2-2. Hubert sprayed a massive forehand error in the fifth game to suffer a break and push Novak towards the finish line. A service winner sent Djokovic 4-2 ahead, and he finally faced slight issues behind the initial shot at 4-3. Novak brought it home after two deuces and cracked a backhand down the line in the next one for two match points. Hurkacz saved them and held with a forehand winner to reduce the deficit to 5-4 and extend his chances. Serving for the victory in game ten, Djokovic held at 15 to emerge at the top and advance into the semi-final.