Novak top marks. The Serbian former world no.1 beat the American Taylor Fritz in the second semi-final of the Rolex Masters in Shanghai, forced to surrender for the tenth time in as many matches against him. The regret for him coincides with the final stages of the second set when, after failing two break points in the 8th game, he also saw a set point vanish in the tie-break which then decided the match. A crucial moment, which Djokovic faced after having resorted to a medical time out due to a muscle problem in the upper gluteal region, managing once again to raise the level of his game to the discouragement and frustration of his rival, who had never been so close. from prolonging a match that – who knows – he might have managed to turn on his side.
“These types of battles at the end of the tournament stress me out and are really tough, physically I felt less good than yesterday and Taylor plays aggressive tennis. It was an important test for me to face his serve but I did well to recover and close it out two sets. It’s nice that the chase for the 100 title is happening here in Shanghai where I have played many good matches in the past, as well as those in Beijing and in China in general. Now I hope to find the energy to face this final”, he declared Novak at the end of the match.
The match in the first set seemed to be settled with the Serbian attacking his rival’s serve from the first game. After the first three break points failed, knock and knock, in the end Djokovic managed to hit the break halfway through without ever giving Fritz any chance to get back into the match.
The script in the second set was different. Fritz, determined to go all out, once again had to repel the Serbian’s attacks but over time, thanks to his physical decline, he finally managed to build the chances to take the lead. And it was there that the champion made the difference again. Increasing the depth of his answers, not failing in the longest and most exhausting exchanges, resorting – and apologizing for it – to a bit of luck and calibrating increasingly precise shots which in the long run ended up weakening the American’s morale and resistance. There is a goal on the horizon that Nole envisioned upon his arrival in China, and it is the 100th title of his career. He had good memories and good feelings that linked him to a trip he had been missing for five years. It seems he managed to find them intact.
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