TURIN: Novak Djokovic moved into the last four of the ATP Finals for the 10th time with a comfortable victory over Russian Andrey Rublev on Wednesday.

The world number one, bidding to equal Roger Federer’s record of six titles at the season-ending event, brushed aside fifth seed Rublev 6-3, 6-2 to secure his 50th match win of the year.

“I served well [and] that helped tremendously,” Djokovic said. “I wanted to put him out of his comfort zone, taking away the time and mix up the pace. It was a great performance overall.”

Djokovic, thanks to successive straight-sets victories, has wrapped up top spot in the Green Group. He beat Casper Ruud in his opening group match.

Ruud kept alive his hopes of making the semifinals by fighting back from a set down to beat Cameron Norrie 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. He now faces Rublev on Friday with a place in the final four on the line for both players.

Norrie was called in as the second alternate after 2019 champion Stefanos Tsitsipas was forced to withdraw with an injured elbow, following Italian Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal on Tuesday with compatriot Jannick Sinner taking his place.

Djokovic will play Norrie on Friday while Rublev and Ruud meet in what amounts to a straight shootout for the last semi-final place.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021