ATP Masters Rome: Novak Djokovic in the semifinals - and still number one
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome with a 7: 5 and 7: 6 (1) against Félix Auger-Aliassime . Djokovic remains number one in the world.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: May 13, 2022, 11:39 pm
The live rankings can go so fast: Daniil Medvedev greeted from the top throughout the tournament week in Rome, but with the 7: 5 and 7: 6 (1) against Félix Auger-Aliassime Novak Djokovic has now made it clear that he will also lead the world rankings in the coming week. Which is only right and proper - because the Serb is getting closer to his best form again, last week in Madrid he was close to throwing Carlos Alcaraz, the high-flyer of the 2022 season, out of the tableau.
Auger-Aliassime defended himself bravely in the first meeting with Djokovic and even made up for a break deficit in the first round. However, the decisive points went to the industry leader from Serbia. In the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic used his fourth break ball with a magical lob. Anyone who would have thought that Auger-Aliassime would never be able to recover from this deficit was wrong. Because when the score was 3: 5, when Djokovic served the match for the first time, Auger-Aliassime managed to break again. A few moments earlier, "FAA" was able to fend off the favorite's first match point.
The script of the first act was not repeated, this time a tiebreak had to bring the decision. And Djokovic played this almost perfectly. Which incidentally brought him his 999th match win on the ATP tour.
Novak Djokovic will now playCasper Ruud tomorrow, Saturday, for a place in the final. And again in the evening event (from 7:30 p.m. live on Sky and in our live ticker).
Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will contest the first semi-final from 2:30 p.m. (also live on Sky and in our ticker).
Here the single tableau in Rome
rommap