Roger Federer completes the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Paris-Bercy. The Swiss defeated Kei Nishikori in two sets and will face Novak Djokovic on Saturday.
Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori scored nine points in a row at the start of set two late on Friday evening in Paris-Bercy. The Japanese was thus deprived of his confidence that he would make it to the semi-finals after losing the first set, and would therefore be able to qualify for the ATP Final in London on his own.
But Nishikori would have had to win the last ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year. After the 4:6 and 4:6 against Federer, Nishikori will finish ninth in the Race to London. And yet, with some degree of certainty, they are likely to serve in the O2 Arena. Finally there is a huge question mark behind Juan Martin del Potro’s appearance.
But now Dominic Thiem is sure to be in London, for the third time in a row. The Austrian did a lot with his success against defending champion Jack Sock, plays in the preliminary round against Karen Khachanov. For the 25-year-old Lichtenwörther in Paris-Bercy, the only question is whether he will overtake Marin Cilic in the race. And of course his greatest career success at a Masters 1000 tournament.
Roger Federer will play Novak Djokovic on Saturday. The Serbian had to catch up with Marin Cilic, who was one set behind, but won in the end in three rounds. At his last meeting with Federer in Cincinnati, Djokovic had surely won the last missing title in his collection.
Here the single tableau in Paris-Bercy