PARIS: Novak Djokovic’s hopes of ending the season as world number one for a record seventh time are on hold after Daniil Medvedev battled past French qualifier Hugo Gaston 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 to reach the Paris Masters semi-finals on Friday.

Djokovic had eased into the last four earlier on Friday, beating American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3, and would have been confirmed as season-ending world number one had Gaston beaten Medvedev.

Djokovic has already suffered one crushing disappointment at the hands of Medvedev this year, the Russian dashing his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep when he beat him in the US Open Final in September.

That prompted Djokovic to take a seven-week break and he admitted his decision to return this week was down to ensuring he retained the top spot.

At one point it looked as if it would be a good Friday for the 20-time Grand Slam champion as Gaston, once again playing well above his ranking of 103, served for the first set.

However, Medvedev broke and then won the tie-break before surging into a 4-0 lead, and although the 21-year-old Frenchman got a break back the defending champion held his nerve to serve out for the match.

Medvedev next plays fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, whom he beat in last year’s final. Zverev was largely untroubled in a 7-5, 6-4 win against sixth seed Casper Ruud of Norway.

Djokovic will meet Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who dug deep to beat Australian James Duckworth 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5 and became the eighth and final player to qualify for the ATP Finals, which start in the Italian city of Turin on Nov 14.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2021