ATP Finals: Novak Djokovic beats Alexander Zverev in group match

The world number one, Novak Djokovic, became the first man to reach the semi-finals of the ATP final after a clinical victory over Alexander Zverev and a favorable result when from the other group match.

After a very physical and tight first set, the 31-year-old Serb ran away with the second to beat the German 6-4 6-1.

Djokovic, chasing a first title in the ATP final since 2015, reached The Last Four when Marin Cilic defeated John Isner later.

"I do not think it was breathtaking tennis, but a win is a win," he said.

"I played well halfway through the second set and I started

" I had not served well, but he made a lot of mistakes not forced who helped me to win. "

Indeed, it is a double fault of Zverev who gave the first set to Djokovic.

Djokovic plays Cilic in his last match of round robin Friday, while Zverev confronts Isner.

Are you Mr. Bendy, Novak?

19659014] It was not until the ninth game of the first inning that one or the other 39, another player can score a point, Zverev by missing two in this game.

After withstanding this pressure, Djokovic left the match until the perfect time to qualify for the next game – take the set when the German committed a double fault.

It was an unfortunate way for Zverev to fall behind, having been impressive with his services until this moment. there, offering seven Aces and in a match, shooting three consecutive services at more than 140 km / h.

Good to know as a future Grand Slam winner, Zverev showed his talent with some nice pbades but he was against a player who can contort his body to almost anything.

Djokovic met one of Zverev's corpses serving an unconventional placement of his racket that was more aimed at protecting his face – but of course, the return was unwound – and later, Zverev needed two typing attempts. put away the ball when the first one would have done against another player.

"It's a first -" Mr. Bendy, "laughed the Serb during his field interview." I rely heavily on my flexibility. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who insisted on the importance of stretching and that paid off. "

Djokovic is the favorite to win a sixth title at the end-of-season tournament after a remarkable year during which he returned from an elbow operation to win Wimbledon and the US Open and return to the top of the standings for the first time in two years.

The two best players of the two groups of four players qualify for Saturday's semifinals, with the winners of these matches ending up in Sunday's final.

Where's he wrong

The turning point of the match was 4-4 on Djokovic's serve, when Zverev found himself 0- 30 up, but a wrong forehand and backhand misses the advantage and gives him the advantage. German blew his racket to the floor, frustrated.

Djokovic struck forehand to give Zverev a point back t, that & # 39; he lost by going back a long time, then the Serbian gave it to him. A second chance with a double fault but the youngster missed that point when a lob attempt drifted a long time.

In the end, Djokovic kept his serve with a good fall and never looked back

Three consecutive errors in the following match gave Djokovic his first break points of the match and while Zverev saved the match. one of them. with a smash, he gave the game with his only double fault of the first set.

The first two games of the second set were tight, Djokovic giving up his shoes with his racket while he failed to break Zverev's first service game. having taken him to two.

But after that, Djokovic turned the screw, the German taking just three points in the last five games while the champion of the Grand Slam, 14 times, completed its victory in one hour and 16 minutes.

"It's important to understand the situation.Zverev is playing against the best player in the world right now, while he's playing some of his best tennis." It's a pleasure for him to understand where he currently stands, "former British number one, Tim Henman, said on television on the BBC.

"If he really wants to play in the Grand Slam – something that has not happened so far – he must then measure himself to the level and in short, he is very easy to be impatient because he won so much [three Masters 1000 titles are among his nine ATP titles] but he is only 21 years old and he is on a trip, bigger and better things are coming. "

Analysis

Former BBC commentator and commentator Andrew Castle:

This was of a type [Djokovic] that was nowhere. He was a lost soul in the last two years after winning the French Open in 2016. He had won everything. But he's back on now. I think it's fantastic to see him at his best. It's great for the game. Everyone will watch this and think "that it is a high level".

This tournament is finally starting to enlighten. We had a lot of regular games, but it was not one of them. Djokovic did not seem to think so, but if he did, I would like to see him play "well".