Top-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic swept No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to advance to the title match of the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
Djokovic won for the third time in four matches against Alcaraz this year to set up a meeting in the final with fourth-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner, who upset Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in Saturday’s other semifinal.
“After spending a lot of time on the court in the first three matches, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel (Saturday),” Djokovic said. “This year I wasn’t maybe as sharp in the second and third group matches, particularly, but I think tonight from the very beginning I felt the ball well.
“I approached the match with the right attitude, the right mentality and I knew from the very first point it was going to be greatly intense. … (Alcaraz) always brings out his best in these kinds of matches and starts with a lot of high-quality tennis and intensity. You’ve got to match that, try to weather the storm, and I did that.”
It was a dominant performance for Djokovic, who only trailed once — at 1-0 in the second set. He saved all four break points he faced, won 30 of 37 first-service points and overcame 10 aces from Alcaraz to move one win away from securing his seventh ATP Finals championship.
Meanwhile, Sinner, in front of a friendly crowd, blew by Medvedev in the third set after dropping the second-set tiebreaker. Sinner jumped out to a 3-0 lead before losing the fourth game, but that’s all Medvedev would get as the 22-year-old put himself in position to potentially become the first Italian to win the ATP Finals.
“It was a really tough match (Saturday),” Sinner said. “The second set was really tight but then he played a very good tiebreak. In the third set I just tried to stay a bit more aggressive and mixing up my game a little bit. I am happy to be in the final.”
For the match, Sinner recorded 29 winners against 13 unforced errors, while Medvedev finished with 30 and 14, respectively.
With an even tougher opponent ahead, Sinner is planning on leaning on the home crowd once again, something he’s done throughout the tournament.
“It is a privilege to have this kind of pressure,” Sinner said. “Even the week before this event I felt really good on this court. It is quite fast. The crowd has given me so much energy.”
–Field Level Media