LONDON, November 15, 2016

Novak Djokovic is the first man to qualify for the knock-out stages at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, winning 7-6, 7-6 over Milos Raonic of Canada. The world No. 2 from Serbia withstood 14 aces and was more solid in the tie-breaks to finish the encounter after two hours and 14 minutes.

“Just hanging in there mentally,” Djokovic told about the key to success. “I believed that my chance will occor and that I have capitalize on it. I was two times a break up in the second set match but the match could have gone either way, as his serve is a weapon and he also has a lot of fire power from the forehand side. I was doing a lot of running.”

Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem, who lost their ATP Finals debuts two days ago, went head-to-head in the afternoon session. In an even match, both players lost their serve three times and won 50 per cent of the total points played, but it was the 21-year-old Austrian, who emerged victorious, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in one hour and 29 minutes. Thiem will meet Raonic in a winner-take-all match on Thursday for a spot in the semi-finals.

“I had a good start today. I was trying to stay tough in the third set but at the end, of course, he helped me a little bit with the three double faults. But I’m very happy with the win,” said Thiem. “This tournament, the big crowd, gives me and probably all the players a lot of energy.”