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ATP Finals 2023: Carlos Alcaraz sets up Novak Djokovic semi-final with win over Daniil Medvedev
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Published 17/11/2023 at 16:34 GMT
Carlos Alcaraz set up a mouth-watering semi-final encounter with Novak Djokovic with a straight sets win over Daniil Medvedev. The Spanish world No. 2 managed the tempo of the rallies well, keeping his Russian opponent uncomfortable, as his athleticism proved the difference. With this win, the Wimbledon champion tops the red group, and will face Djokovic in the last four.
Alcaraz sets up Djokovic semi-final with win over already qualified Medvedev
Video credit: SNTV
Carlos Alcaraz set up a semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic with a battling 6-4 6-4 win over Daniil Medvedev in the Nitto ATP Finals.
Medvedev came into the contest with the pressure off having already booked his place in the semi-finals courtesy of wins over Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev - both without dropping a set.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz, who lost his opener to Zverev, knew victory would book him a semi-final spot after getting off the mark with a victory over Rublev last time out.
Jannik Sinner, Djokovic and Medvedev had already sealed their places in the next round, while Zverev was hoping for a favour from the Russian world No. 3 to stay alive in the draw.
The first set enthralled from the start, as Alcaraz staved off two break points and forced his way back to deuce, before coming out on top in a scintillating 33-shot rally at 2-2.
Momentum firmly swung in Alcaraz’s favour when he secured an emphatic break to love in the seventh game to move 4-3 ahead, which was capped off by a blistering backhand down the line.
That backhand was utilised to devastating effect again to draw first blood with a brilliant cross-court backhand winner, and he suddenly had one foot in the last four.
Alcaraz was showcasing his finesse as well as his power, landing a delightful drop-shot on the way to taking his first hold of the second set at 1-1.
Medvedev was fearing the worst when a long forehand gave Alcaraz two break points, but the Wimbledon champion did not take advantage of either after netting both returns in a crucial hold of serve for the Russian.
Two emphatic holds of serve followed for each player to leave Medvedev leading 3-2, while Alcaraz responded to a bit of pressure after almost surrendering a 40-0 lead, but held to level the scores again.
Neither player was giving much away as two more holds of serve followed, but the decisive moment followed in the ninth game.
The world No. 2 broke in the most agonising of circumstances for Medvedev, who surrendered serve with a double fault to leave Alcaraz serving for the match.
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'He is unbelievable' - Alcaraz 'excited' to play Djokovic
Video credit: SNTV
The Spaniard duly delivered when it mattered, serving it out with panache to seal his place in the last four, and set up a mouth-watering clash with world No. 1 Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Speaking post-match, he said: “Probably [this is the most confident and best tennis I’ve played]. It was an amazing match for me.
"I did everything pretty well. Before the match, I was really happy with how I prepared [for it] mentally and physically, everything I’ve done was perfectly [executed].
"I served a good match as well, that helped a lot. On this surface, against a player like Daniil, who puts every return in, I was really focussed, and I’m happy about it.
“I realised the game that I had to [play]. In the first match, I didn’t feel comfortable moving or hitting shots. I was thinking so much and the day after the first round, I practised well, and then the match against Rublev went perfectly, hitting big bombs which I really like to do.
"This game is the game that I’ve played the whole year, so I have to think about it, and I think I’ve realised the game that I have to play.”
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