Nitto ATP tennis : Djokovic beats Alcaraz again , to meet Sinner in final

 



Novak Djokovic  said after achieving the 2023 year end number one ranking that anything more  that he achieves in this current event will be a bonus . However  surely he was preparing himself when he found out that Carlos Alcaraz who snatched the Wimbledon title from him in July will meet him in Nitto ATP semis .


Djokovic did beat Alcaraz at Cincinnati soon after his Wimbledon loss but this year end event presented him with another opportunity to script another memorable win against his most talked about adversary against whom he is having a special rivalry at the twilight of his illustrious career .


In the second semis , Alcaraz was quicker off the blocks getting his first serves in and looking in great ball striking form which he displayed vs Rublev and Medvedev in back to back straight set wins . Initially Djokovic was struggling to hold his serve more than the Spaniad . However the great player he is , Novak absorbed the initial pressure and worked his way into the match breaking Alcaraz midway in the first set after some  astonishing rallies by both players . Djokovic held on his serve to win the first set 6-3 . 


The second set too went similar to the first but this time Djokovic was in firm control . Alcaraz made a few grand efforts  getting into break points on Djokovic's serve but every time Djokovic salvaged the situation with tremendous mental resolve and great ball striking and fitness levels at 36 . Djokovic meanwhile broke Alcaraz twice in the second set taking advantage of a few sluggish moments of the Spaniard and finally closed out the match in style 6-3, 6-2 to make it 3-1 in his head to head duels with Alcaraz this year .


Djokovic will meet Sinner to whom he lost his group game in 3 sets and was in danger of elimination but Sinner beating Rune in next match opened the semis door for the Serbian .


Meanwhile Jannik Sinner who is in imperious form had to work hard to beat Daniil Medvedev in 3 sets .


Medvedev was on break point at 1-1 in set one but Sinner stood firm and broke Medvedev in next game to finally win the first set 6-3.


The second set was strongly contested with ruthless baseline game by Medvedev and high level skills by Sinner . It went with serve at 6-6 till Medvedev outplayed Sinner 7-4 in tiebreak .



Sinner went in front early in the decider when Medvedev double-faulted and the Italian moved to the brink of victory with another break to storm into a 5-1 lead finally closing the match & 3rd set at 6-1 .


The final promises to be an absolute classic  .

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