Novak Djokovic admitted that he was «very happy» to overcome the challenge from Stefanos Tsitsipas in Paris. In the Paris Masters semifinal, Djokovic outclassed Tsitsipas 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) to reach his eighth Bercy final.
«It’s very sweet, obviously, when you win matches like this against one of the best players in the world. I think I started the match very well, again, with a big hit like yesterday in the quarters. I had chances early in the second. [twice at 30/30]I didn’t break your serve.
The momentum changed, the crowd got into it. I think he raised his level of tennis. Deservedly, we entered, the two of us, in an even battle until the last point, until the last shot. Some amazing points towards the end.
I am very happy to overcome this challenge,» Djokovic said after the match, according to the ATP website.
How did Djokovic beat Tsitsipas?
No breaks were seen in the first four games of the match as the two players were tied at two games apiece at the start of the match.
Djokovic then claimed back-to-back breaks and won four games in a row to win the first set in style. After winning the first set, Djokovic routinely served out the first game of the second set. Djokovic, who was on a five-game winning streak, was also 0-30 on Tsitsipas’ serve in the second game.
Tsitsipas managed to get the second game to end Djokovic’s five-game winning streak, before breaking the Serb in the fifth and ninth games to send the match to a decider. In the third set, no breaks were seen, even though Djokovic had four break points: two in the third game and two more in the ninth game.
In the tie-break, Tsitsipas claimed a mini-break on the seventh point to open a 4-3 lead. Djokovic responded by winning the next four games to earn a narrow three-set victory. On Sunday, Djokovic will play Holger Rune for his seventh title in Paris.
