PARIS/STARNBERG, November 5, 2022
Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune will compete in Sunday’s championship match of the Rolex Paris Masters. The 35-year-old defending champion from Serbia fought past Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) in the stage of the final four on Saturday.
Djokovic struck 11 aces and won 84 per cent of his first-service points to advance in two hours and 19 minutes.
DJOKOVIC SURVIVES ⚡️@DjokerNole defeats Tsitsipas in one of the best matches of 2022 and will compete for a 7th Paris title tomorrow!#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/yq01J3BECd
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 5, 2022
“It’s very sweet, obviously, when you win matches like this against one of the best players in the world,” Djokovic said. “I thought I started the match very well, again, great hitting like yesterday in the quarters. I had chances early on in the second, I didn’t break his serve. The momentum shifted, the crowd got into it. I think he elevated his level of tennis.
“Deservedly so, we went into — both of us — into an even battle all the way until the last point, until the last shot. Some incredible points towards the end. I’m just really glad to overcome this challenge.”
Rune snaps Auger-Aliassime’s winning streak
Earlier in the day, the 19-year-old Rune did not drop his serve and took five of eight break points to end in-form Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime‘s 16-match winning run with a 6-4, 6-2 victory. The World No. 18 from Denmark reached his first ATP Masters 1000 final after one hour and 27 minutes.
Fourth final in a row. Fourth top-10 win in a row 🤯@holgerrune2003 snaps Auger-Aliassime’s SIXTEEN-match winning streak to reach his maiden Masters 1000 final in Paris!#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/gcfq107ye9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 5, 2022
“It was an unbelievable match from my side today,” said Rune. “I really was sticking to the game plan for the whole match and just taking every chance I got. Putting Felix under pressure, that’s what my game plan was all about, and I managed to do it almost perfectly. I am super proud how I handled everything.”
Djokovic will play his record 56th ATP Masters 1000 final as he seeks to claim his third Paris title in as many appearances following triumphs in 2019 and 2021. Rune could lift his third tour-level career trophy.
