Djokovic clinches semifinal spot at ATP Finals with win over Rublev
Ruud keeps playoff hopes alive after coming back to beat Norrie
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the ATP Finals by beating Andrey Rublev 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday.
The top-ranked Djokovic is attempting to match Roger Federer's record of six titles at the season-ending event for the top eight players in the world.
Djokovic was again almost perfect on his serve, although Rublev managed to break him in the opening game. Djokovic broke twice in each set and won the match with his 12th ace.
"I knew that I had to be on my toes and start well," Djokovic said. "I dropped my serve again like in the first match. It was quite a nervous start from both of us until 4-3, then with new balls I somehow managed to find the right shots at the right time.
Djokovic is now 2-0 in the Green Group. He beat Casper Ruud in his opening group match.
Ruud kept alive his hopes of making the semifinals by fighting back from a set down to beat Cameron Norrie 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. He now faces Rublev on Friday with a place in the final four on the line for both players.
Norrie was called in as the second alternate after 2019 champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was forced to withdraw with an injured elbow. Matteo Berrettini was replaced by Jannik Sinner on Tuesday.
But Ruud slowly started coming back into the match and levelled following an error-strewn second set from Norrie.
The decisive moment happened in the fifth game of the third set. Norrie managed to save two break points but double faulted to hand the Norwegian the advantage.
Ruud went on to waste three match points but won his first ever match at the ATP Finals with a powerful serve that Norris could not return.
