Andrey Rublev squared up against the seven-time season-ending world No.1, a legend of the sport. He took on the man instead of playing the match in his first meeting with Novak Djokovic.
The 24-year-old Russian, a decade younger than the Serb, wanted so much to make a mark in this pivotal Green Group clash of the Nitto ATP Finals, that he overplayed the ball, flirting with the wild side as he succumbed to nerves and a daunting opponent in Djokovic.
The top-seed, strung it together like only he can, turning the arena into his drawing room, whirring impossible gets into winners to score a 6-3, 6-2 win to make his 10th semifinal of the season finale.
“I knew that I had to be on my toes, start well with good intensity,” Djokovic said, “It was quite a nervous start from both of us until 4-3 in the first set, then with new balls I managed to find the right shots at the right time. I made him play, on the break point at 4-3, I managed to strike a good passing shot. After winning the first set I put additional pressure on him, and I started to maybe play more consistently from the back of the court. I wanted to put him out of his comfort zone, taking away the time and mixing up the pace.”
Djokovic was broken in the first game of the match after Rublev elected to receive at the coin toss. The world No.5, who came into the tournament having lost five of his last seven matches, promptly fell behind 15-40 on his own serve in the second game. Rublev saved the first breakpoint but blew a forehand high volley to surrender the advantage.
Djokovic sensed the opening and picked up his play by a notch in the eighth game when he broke the Russian with a ripper of a backhand after Rublev messed up the volley. Djokovic then served out the set with an ace.
In his third meeting with a World No. 1 overall, Rublev equaled his previous showings where he won five games against Andy Murray at the 2017 Australian Open and the same number again against Rafael Nadal later that year at the US Open. The Russian was broken in the third game and seventh games of the second set, before Djokovic, gunning for a record sixth title in the season finale, closed with his 14th ace.
“It's a bit like rushing, like you're playing one of the best players and you feel, now I have a chance to finish the point or to take a lead during the rally. You think too much sometimes,” Rublev said “In the end, instead of making it, like you usually do in other matches, you are missing them.”
Sinner sparkles on debut
Italian Jannik Sinner -- who replaced compatriot Matteo Berrettini after the world No.7 withdrew from the season-ender with an abdominal injury -- gave home fans great cheer as he came up with a resounding 6-2, 6-2 win over Hubert Hurkacz late on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old, ranked No.11, kept alive semi-final hopes in the Red Group as he bids to become the first alternate to qualify for the semi-finals of the year-end championships. Sinner could reach the last four if he defeats World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in their next match, or if Alexander Zverev loses to Hurkacz on Thursday.
