Djokovic eases past Alcaraz to set up final clash with Sinner
Novak Djokovic capped a year of tense battles with Carlos Alcaraz with a 6-3, 6-2 semi-final victory over the Spaniard on Saturday at the Nitto ATP Finals.
Djokovic was at his best throughout the 88-minute match in Turin, earning his third win in four Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Alcaraz this year.
The Serbian gave his powerful opponent few attacking opportunities by consistently striking deep and clinched a break of Alcaraz's serve in each set to set up a championship match against home favourite Jannik Sinner.
“I approached the match with the right attitude, the right mentality, and I knew from the very first point it was going to be greatly intense. He had break points right away, 15/40 in the first game" said Djokovic.
"That’s Carlos. He always brings out his best in these kinds of matches and starts with a lot of high quality tennis and intensity. You’ve got to match that, try to weather the storm, and I did that.”
Djokovic's previous meetings with Alcaraz this year include the Spaniard's stunning five-set win in the Wimbledon final and Djokovic saving match point to win the Cincinnati championship match. The latest installment of the rivalry, however, lacked the drama, with Djokovic triumphing clinically in the pair's first meeting indoors.
With his victory, Djokovic moves within one match of becoming the prestigious season finale's champion for a record seventh time. In Turin, the 36-year-old went 2-1 in group play, with his only loss coming against his next opponent, Sinner. The meeting of a Nitto ATP Finals champion and an in-form home favorite promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the week in Turin.
Saturday's match did not start well for Djokovic, as he found himself 15/40 down on serve in the first game. Perhaps fearful of Alcaraz's strength, the Serbian gambled with big second serves in an attempt to escape, and it paid off as he won four straight points to hold.
The first set of close margins was decided in the eighth game, when Djokovic raised his level on return to claim a crucial break before serving out to love.
Despite sending down plenty of big serves, Alcaraz struggled to consistently break through Djokovic's defenses on the fast Pala Alpitour court. The Serbian had taken a 3-2 lead in the second set with a break before Alcaraz found some joy with some trademark big hitting, but Djokovic rallied from 15/40 to hold for 4-2 before marching to victory.
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