Novak Djokovic can already plan the semifinals after a dominant performance in Turin. After Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Serbian world number 8 also defeated Andrej Rublev in the second game of the red group. Against the Russians he did not reveal any weaknesses at 6: 4, 6: 1.
The 1st set was initially balanced, in which both players did not allow anything on their own serve and hit 8 aces each. Towards the end of the period, however, Rublev made a number of unforced errors while his opponent remained dominant.
Key scene at the end of the 1st movement
When the score was 5: 4 for Djokovic, a ball from Rublew landed in the net and another one went wide – giving the five-time ATP finals winner the first break and set ball at the same time. After the Russian vented his anger and threw his bat through the air, he had no answer to another strong return from the Serb and had to give up the first set.
The second round continued in the same style. The 35-year-old Djokovic played impressively dominant, meanwhile Rublew’s mistakes didn’t stop. In addition, the Russian clearly still carried the frustration from the lost starting set in his bones and in his head.
The player, who is 10 years his junior, picked the wrong corner too often, still didn’t always keep his racquet in his hands and also complained that he was partially blinded. So he won only one game against the Serbs, who could draw level with record winner Roger Federer with his 6th finals title and lost 1: 6 without discussion.
Here’s how to proceed
The last games of the green group are scheduled for Thursday in Turin. Rafael Nadal (ESP/ATP 2), who has already been eliminated, meets Casper Ruud (NOR/ATP 4), who has secured progress. The Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP 6) and the American Taylor Fritz (ATP 9) then make up the second place in the semifinals. You can watch both games live on SRF.