The last ever ATP Finals group stage in London is almost over. Daniil Medvedev and Diego Schwartzman will complete the action in their dead rubber tonight. It will be very interesting to see how much effort Medvedev puts into that considering he will have to be back to compete tomorrow against a well rested Rafael Nadal. Thanks for following today and until tomorrow.
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'Hopefully we can have another great match - hopefully this time with a different outcome'@DjokerNole looking for #NittoATPFinals revenge against Thiem tomorrow after last year's epic 👀 pic.twitter.com/VzXf98hbm9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 20, 2020
Semi-final lineup
Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal
Dominic Thiem vs Novak Djokovic
Rematches of the 2019 US Open and 2020 Australian Open finals. It should be good.
Total points won in set two:
Zverev: 45
Djokovic: 43
Tennis is all about the important points.
Novak Djokovic sums it up well:
“I managed to serve well in the important moments and contrary to the last match against Daniil, I just managed to find the right shots at the right time.”
Novak Djokovic beats Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(4)
Djokovic books his spot in the semi-final with a very notable performance. He was second best for so much of that second set, but as soon as he needed to produce his best tennis, it was all there.
From *2-3 in the tiebreak, Djokovic slammed down consecutive unreturned serves. At 4-3, he then nailed a crosscourt backhand passing shot to reach 5-3. At 5-4, Djokovic produced another unreturned serve before dismounting on match point with a winning forehand. Incredible tiebreak.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 (3-3) Alexander Zverev
Djokovic recovered Zverev’s early mini-break with some immense defence to reach 2-2 from 0-2. The pair then traded big unreturned serves.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-6 Alexander Zverev
Djokovic pushed Zverev to a tiebreak with a hold to 30. Once again, it was hardly a comfortable service game as he found himself at 30-30 after a backhand error. Djokovic responded well, slamming down a big serve to reach game point. Zverev then netted a very routine backhand to give Djokovic another hold.
There was also a rare sight at the beginning of the game as Zverev requested a video review after Lahyani ruled that he had not reached a Djokovic drop shot in time. Lahyani reviewed the footage and upheld his call before the second bounce shown on the video screens.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *5-6 Alexander Zverev
Zverev continued to serve exceptionally and hold more easily than Djokovic right now. He started the game with two serve-forehand 1-2 punches and ended it with two unreturned serves, sealing an easy hold to love.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-5* Alexander Zverev
After cruising to 40-0 and looking well on his way to levelling Zverev, Djokovic briefly took his foot off the gas. Djokovic struck successive errors on the first two break points, then Zverev played a very good point at 40-30, crushing a backhand down-the-line before putting away his forehand.
Djokovic recovered well, moving forward and dispatching an overhead at deuce. More authoritative play followed on his fourth game point, a serve and forehand 1-2 punch securing the game.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *4-5 Alexander Zverev
Zverev is clearly holding serve more easily than Djokovic in this second set and he did so again here to 15. Behind more exquisite serving, he landed a very good overhead winner at 30-15. The game then finished with both players at the net, Zverev confidently dispatching a backhand volley winner to keep himself ahead.
Zverev used to be such a poor player at the net, but he is fast improving. This has been one of his best showings in the forecourt against a top player.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 4-4* Alexander Zverev
Under yet more pressure at 30-30 and second serve, Djokovic threw in a backhand drop shot. Although that shot has failed him so often in recent weeks, this time he got away with it as it forced an error from a scrambling Zverev. At 40-30, Djokovic landed an easy unreturned serve to hold.
Zverev’s average backhand speed:
Set 1: 74mph
Set 2: 77mph
Zverev has also increased the topspin along with the raw pace. It has risen by around 150 revolutions per minute.
Updated
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *3-4 Alexander Zverev
Another very good service game from Zverev to keep himself ahead. He executed another very nice backhand volley at 30-15, then snatched the second break point with a big unreturned serve down the T. Djokovic is under plenty of pressure here.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-3* Alexander Zverev
This is a different match now as Djokovic faces ample pressure on his serve against an energised Zverev, but he comes through another hold. From 15-30, Djokovic produced a great combination of inside out forehands, eventually forcing a Zverev backhand error. At 30-30, Zverev’s forehand clipped the net and flew wide. Djokovic closed it off with a very good drop shot that Zverev reached but could not control.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *2-3 Alexander Zverev
This time, Zverev saves two break points to hold after a sloppy start to the game. He saved the first break point at 15-40 with a forehand winner, then he produced a very good serve and volley on Djokovic’s second chance. After a big inside out forehand winner, Zverev roared with glee as he skipped to his seat.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-2* Alexander Zverev
Djokovic survives some danger, saving break point to keep himself level. Zverev started the game well, playing a lovely drop shot winner and backhand down-the-line winner to reach 15-30. At 30-30, Djokovic threw in a double fault.
Zverev could not capitalise. Under pressure from excellent depth from Djokovic, he missed quite a routine backhand.
After a scrappy couple of game points, Djokovic finished the game well. At deuce, he found a great overhead before sweeping up a poor drop shot, forcing a backhand error from Zverev.
Updated
Here is Bruno Soares on reuniting with Jamie Murray.
Q. We heard the news yesterday that you’re joining back with Jamie Murray as a doubles partner.
BRUNO SOARES: Yes.
Q. Can you tell us how that came about and why that came about?
BRUNO SOARES: Well, yeah. Mate came to me the end of last week and decided that he wanted to split and he had different plans for 2021. Jamie found out the news. Came to talk to me, my plans. To be honest, I didn’t really have any plans because I was trying to focus, you know, on the tournament here, pretty big one.
But again, I have to at one point look for a partner. It seemed to me a great idea. I really like Jamie as a person, as a player. We had a lot of success together.
I think we both are more experienced, more mature now. I’m really looking forward for next year.
Q. On that point, you kind of mentioned you both learned a lot from your experiences with different partners. How do you think that will kind of help you coming back together? What would you do differently that perhaps was not working at the end of your time with Jamie when you guys split before?
BRUNO SOARES: Well, I think at the end it’s a little bit of -- I mean, it’s like a marriage, you know. At the end, sometimes just a routine and it just gets to you, and I think at the end was then.
I think Jamie needed a change at that moment. I appreciate him because he was always very honest about it, and when he came and talked to me, I completely understood. I think for me, first thing, you’ve got to be happy on court, and if you’re not really feeling happy you have got to do something to be happy. He felt that the change was necessary.
We’re still playing great tennis. I think right now, I think it’s not the experience with different partners. I think it’s just time. You mature, you play better, keep improving.
I think Jamie improved a lot since we played, which is good. I don’t know if I improved a lot. I’m getting older, so he’s going to have to come with the youth, which he’s not that young anymore.
But I think one advantage that we have, it’s with a lot of teams changing for next season. Me and Jamie, we’re not really a change. We know each other extremely well, and I don’t think it’s going to take long for us to click. So I think this is something positive on our side and makes us even more competitive.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *1-2 Alexander Zverev
From 15-15, Zverev threw down a 140mph ace, a forehand drive volley winner from a big serve, then an unreturned serve. A quick and tidy hold to 15.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 1-1* Alexander Zverev
Djokovic strolls through a comfortable hold to 30. After a lovely forehand down-the-line winner at 30-15, Djokovic finished with yet another unreturned serve.
Novak Djokovic 6-3 *0-1 Alexander Zverev
Unlike in the first set, Zverev holds firm at the beginning of the set with a quick hold to 15. He slammed down two aces and two unreturned serves. Clearly, he is into a very good serving rhythm since double faulting on break point. For how long can he keep it up?
Novak Djokovic takes the first set 6-3 against Alexander Zverev
A businesslike set of tennis from Djokovic, who broke Zverev in his opening return game and then never let his advantage go. He served extremely well throughout and the one time he faced some adversity, he saved double break point by serving even better. Still, Zverev has settled into match now so we’ll see what he can do.
Novak Djokovic *5-3 Alexander Zverev
Djokovic will serve for the first set after a quick hold from Zverev. At 15-15, Zverev moved forward to the net and dispatched a very nice backhand volley, which he followed up with two unreturned serves.
Returns made:
Djokovic - 92%
Zverev - 58%
Novak Djokovic 5-2* Alexander Zverev
Djokovic keeps himself ahead with a really good hold under pressure. After a poor service game from Djokovic to fall down 15-40, he found four first serves in a row.
Djokovic came up with consecutive unreturned serves to save both break points. From deuce, he then twice swept into the net after big forehands, dispatching two overhead winners in succession.
Novak Djokovic *4-2 Alexander Zverev
After an indifferent start, Zverev looks like he is into the match. He blazed through a quick hold to 15 with an exquisite sequence: backhand winner, ace, forehand winner.
Zverev is taking the ball on and hitting freely in his service games but the question is how much he can do so on Djokovic’s serve.
Novak Djokovic 4-1* Alexander Zverev
Another quick hold for the No 1. Zverev played one astonishing point in the game at 15-0, producing a tremendous defensive backhand before ending the point with an overhead winner. Otherwise, Djokovic had no problems whatsoever. At 30-15, Zverev overhit a backhand after a long point and then Djokovic finished with a big serve down the T.
Novak Djokovic *3-1 Alexander Zverev
A good service game from Zverev to get himself on the board. He finished with a forehand inside out winner on 30-0 and then an imperious backhand down-the-line winner to hold to love. He will need to take control like that if he wants to win today.
Novak Djokovic 3-0* Alexander Zverev
Djokovic consolidates the break with a quick hold to 15. At 15-15, he landed an unreturned serve and then he followed it with a quick serve-forehand 1-2 punch. He closed out the game with the shot that has cost him many points so far this week: a drop shot winner. Perfect start.
Novak Djokovic *2-0 Alexander Zverev
Djokovic immediately breaks serve with ease. After a couple of sloppy errors from Zverev to fall down 0-30, Djokovic nailed a brilliant backhand crosscourt passing shot that kissed the line. On the second break point, Zverev double faulted.
A reminder: Djokovic generated one (1) break point against Medvedev in the whole match.
Novak Djokovic 1-0* Alexander Zverev
Without a care in the world, Djokovic strolls to a hold in the opening game of the match. He opened with an incredible point, pulling off a great drop volley winner after a long rally. After some great serving, he closed it off with an unreturned serve.
As a reminder, here is my piece from last week on the domestic abuse allegations from Alexander Zverev’s ex-girlfriend, Olya Sharypova.
Updated
Novak Djokovic will kick things off on his serve now. A big match. Let’s see how this goes.
The players are on-court. The great Mohammed Lahyani will be the umpire today and this is how he addressed the players:
“We have a lot of help on this court. Like usual, we have hawk-eye live... we have the serve clock on each corner, we have TV changeovers, we have everything! Anything else you want?”
Updated
"Murray wins, Murray wins it all"
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 20, 2020
On this day in 2016, one of the most memorable nights in @andy_murray's career 🤩#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/bkFTC2974V
Some highlights of their 2018 encounter.
Novak Djokovic leads Alexander Zverev 3-2 in the head-to-head. On indoor hard, they are 1-1 with both results memorably coming a the 2018 ATP Finals. Djokovic easily won 6-4 6-1 in the round robin group, then Zverev turned the tables with perhaps the best match of his career so far, winning 6-4 6-3.
Preamble
Hello! Welcome to our coverage on day 6 of the ATP Finals in London as we look to see who will take the final spot in Saturday’s semi-final lineup. Once again, there are no complex calculations here. As Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev face each other this afternoon, the winner will seal the final spot against Dominic Thiem and the loser will go home.
This will be a very interesting match for Djokovic. On Wednesday, he was dismantled by a near-flawless Daniil Medvedev who served and returned supremely well while making so few errors throughout the match. Djokovic started well, but then he simply could not hang with Medvedev after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. He struggled to pierce the Russian’s defence and he did not have the patience to ride out some of the longer rallies, often bailing out of points with drop shots or overhit groundstrokes.
What did that match say about Djokovic? Firstly, between recent encounters with Medvedev, Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Nadal, there is certainly increasing evidence that he does not quite have the patience of old against players who can make things extremely physical.
One also wonders whether his killer instinct is slightly lacking in an event that doesn’t really add much to his legacy. What is he playing for here? He has already won the ATP Finals many times, he is assured #1 until at least the end of the Australian Open and it will probably be enough to usurp Roger Federer’s all-time #1 record that he is chasing. Although he was clearly giving 100%, it seems reasonable that an ATP Finals round robin match in front of nobody at this point in his career is not going elicit the same passion as matches on the bigger stages. We saw those same dynamics in action a few weeks ago when he lost to Lorenzo Sonego in Vienna and admitted that he wasn’t particularly invested in it. Now, with his fate in the tournament on the line, we’ll see what he looks like today.
