Novak Djokovc defeats Holger Rune while Stefanos Tsitsipas advances to Paris semi-finals

Novak Djokovic stayed on course for a seventh Paris Masters title by defeating Holger Rune in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the Dane still qualifying for the ATP Tour Finals after Andrey Rublev defeated Alex de Minaur.

Djokovic was rock solid as he avenged his loss to the tenacious youngster in last year's showpiece, winning 7-5 6-7(3) 6-4 and advancing to the semi-finals against Russian fifth seed Rublev, who defeated Australian De Minaur 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Victory for the 20-year-old Rune would have guaranteed him a spot in Turin, but he will still make his debut in the year-end event featuring the world's top eight players, as De Minaur had to win the title to deny the Dane a spot.

With Djokovic's win, Germany's Alexander Zverev has also qualified for the ATP Tour Finals.

Rune wowed the Paris crowd with some stunning tennis, saving a match point at 4-5 in the second set before an inspired tiebreak decided the match.

Djokovic, on the other hand, was unfazed and broke serve early in the third set, while Rune was hampered by a cut to his hand that necessitated some lengthy patching up at a changeover.

The sixth seed made no impression on Djokovic's serve in the decider, as the top-ranked Serb won for the 16th time since losing in the Wimbledon final.

Earlier in Bercy, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals against Grigor Dimitrov.

Tsitsipas, who had secured his place in Turin the day before, was at his shot-making best to dominate the contest.

In defeating Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, Zverev, and now Khachanov, the seventh seed has yet to drop a set.

In the first set, he had far too much variety for Khachanov, using his all-court game and accurate serving to great effect. In the second set, he moved a break ahead before Khachanov hit a brief purple patch to get back on terms.

Tsitsipas quickly regained control, sweeping to his 300th professional victory, bringing up match point with a delightful drop shot that had the crowd ecstatic.

Dimitrov defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to end the Pole's chances of reaching the ATP Finals.

SportsLigue