'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Novak Djokovic played a perfect match on Wednesday as he beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and eight minutes to reach the ATP Finals semifinals for the 11th time in his career.
It was the third meeting between the two players, with the Serb now leading 2-1 head-to-head. While he finished with 19 winners and no unforced errors, the seventh-ranked Russian hit 18 winners and one unforced error.
Djokovic is eyeing a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title to level with former star Roger Federer. Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will square off against each other to join the Serb and Casper Ruud in the last four.
Trending
In the Green Group, the winner of the match between Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime will make the semifinals. Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev both lost their first two matches to crash out of the event.
After his victory over Rublev on Wednesday, Djokovic was seen signing autographs and clicking photographs with the spectators at the Pala Alpitour Arena. Just as he approached the stands, the 35-year-old icon gave a hug to a young boy who had tears in his eyes. Fans were touched by the act and started praising him for his kindness.
"This is really the guy who the whole world made out to be a villain because they couldn’t accept he was better than his two biggest extremely loved rivals, didn’t like his nationality and that he was pro-choice when it came to an untested vaccine. Unreal," a fan tweeted.
"Novak is the kindest to his fans. He spends so much time signing autographs, taking photos, listening, appreciating the support. With cameras, without cameras, day in, day out. A wonderful champion," a user posted.
"I got to meet Nole in Australia a few years ago and I can tell you I had all these things to say to him but could only say hi to Nole. I was star struck," another tweet read.
Here are a few more reactions:
I played one of the best matches of the year: Novak Djokovic after defeating Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev beat 2020 ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev in a three-set thriller on Monday. The 25-year-old was expected to make things difficult for Novak Djokovic but instead faced a crushing defeat. Having won four titles this season, the Serb still seems to be getting better with every match.
In an on-court interview post his win over Rublev, the 21-time Major winner stated that he played one of the best matches of the season against an outstanding player.
“I played very, very well, one of the best matches of the year without a doubt,” Djokovic said. “He is a tough opponent. A great competitor. He possesses a lot of strengths in his game. I managed to find the right attitude and the right game. He went down in his energy a little in the second set and I wanted to use the momentum and energy from my side in the first few games and it was a flawless second set.”
How did Novak Djokovic meet Jelena Ristic? All about the most admired couples in tennis
