Novak Djokovic bounced again from his first loss in 4 months with a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1 win over alternate Hubert Hurkacz in his closing group match on the ATP Finals on Thursday.
Djokovic now must hope Jannik Sinner beats Holger Rune later so he can advance to the semifinals of the season-ending match for the 12 months’s high eight gamers.
“My youngsters are arriving arriving tonight, so I do not suppose I will watch,” Djokovic mentioned. “I did my job and I will spend tonight with the household. Then tomorrow I can fear about whether or not I certified or not.”
Since Hurkacz took a set off Djokovic, Sinner was assured of advancing.
Djokovic was overwhelmed in three lengthy units by Sinner in his earlier match – the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s first loss since falling to Carlos Alcaraz within the Wimbledon closing in July. In his opening match, Djokovic beat Rune to safe the year-end No. 1 rating for a record-extending eighth time.
The ninth-ranked Hurkacz changed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who withdrew with a decrease again harm after taking part in solely three video games of his match in opposition to Rune on Tuesday.
Djokovic appeared pissed off early on when he had no reply to Hurkacz’s huge serve, however then his Polish opponent made just a few errors and Djokovic gained 10 straight factors to leap out to a giant lead within the tiebreaker.
Djokovic double-faulted handy Hurkacz a break and a 3-2 lead within the second. Then Hurkacz saved two break factors with aces a few video games later and continued to carry to shut out the set because the pro-Sinner crowd chanted “Hu-bi, Hu-bi.”
Hurkacz served routinely at 140 mph (225 kph) and cranked out 24 aces to Djokovic’s six. However Djokovic broke to take management halfway by means of the third and improved to 7-0 in his profession in opposition to Hurkacz.
“He is obtained one of many greatest serves in world,” Djokovic mentioned. “It’s totally, very powerful to return, particularly right here at an altitude of almost 300 meters (1,000 toes). … I used to be ready for probabilities when he missed his first serve – that was my solely likelihood.”
Sinner and Djokovic have two wins every, Rune has one win and Hurkacz and Tsitsipas have none.
Within the different group, Daniil Medvedev has already superior with two wins. Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have one win every and Andrey Rublev is winless.
