Novak Djokovic has reached the final of the Rolex Paris Masters with a hard-fought three-set victory over Roger Federer. In the semi-finals, the top favourite beat the Swiss player 7:6 (6), 5:7 and 7:6 (3).
Federer and Novak Djokovic had already competed against each other in 46 duels, 24 went to the Serb, who will be back at the top of the world rankings next Monday. For Federer it was the semi-final of an ATP event number 201, Djokovic started with a series of 21 won matches in a row. The numbers suggested a giant duel and that was it.
The gladiators did not hold back long and the spectators in Paris-Bercy got to see early great rallies with strong winners. Federer, in particular, seemed hungry and fresh, and the Swiss had been left behind in the last three encounters with the Serb.
Fast points were hardly to be seen in the initial phase of the game. Djokovic and Federer played with enormous speed, varied with an occasionally interspersed slice and enchanted the audience with excellent points. Federer’s schedule was clear: to break the rhythm of Djokovic with the backhand slice and then switch to attack mode in a flash.
Federer fended off five break points in the first set and forced a tie-break. After 1:11 hours of play, Djokovic had to let Djokovic take the lead with a tight 6:8.
The match did not lose its tension in set two either, both players did not give in and Federer played the best match of the past weeks.
The physical advantages, however, were on Djokovic’s side, who did not seem tired even after almost two hours of intensive tennis. But the first break of the match was to come from Federer, who struck at the right moment and equalized the sets 7:5.
Federer continued to dominate the game at the start of the third period, earning two break points that Djokovic managed to fend off. The high-class exchange of blows between the two tennis giants developed into a game of nerves.
Federer was the better player in the middle of the set and had no problems with his own service. 44 winners helped the Swiss keep the rallies short and saved energy.
But Djokovic knew how to help himself and kept a cool head. The Djokovic trap finally snapped in the tie-break and the 31-year-old also won the 22nd match in a row.
Djokovic will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the final. The Masters endgame debutant won with a sensational performance against Dominic Thiem in two sets with 6:4 and 6:1.