Djokovic Rallies Past Rublev, Stays On Track For Seventh Heaven In Paris

Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect record in semi-finals at the Rolex Paris Masters on Saturday evening, but not before overcoming a marathon hard-hitting test from Andrey Rublev in the French capital.

The World No. 1 prevailed 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 against the fifth-seeded Rublev to move within one win of a record-extending seventh title at the ATP Masters 1000. Despite some uncharacteristically wayward baseline play and having treatment from the physio on his lower back between the second and third sets, Djokovic held firm in the decider to clinch a three-hour, two-minute triumph.

"Rublev was suffocating me like a snake suffocates a frog for most of the match," said Djokovic. "He was playing an extremely high level that he possesses, but today he was off the charts, honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever faced Rublev this good."

[SWEEPSTAKES]

Djokovic is now 9-0 in semi-finals in Paris-Bercy, where he will compete for his 40th Masters 1000 crown in Sunday’s championship match. His opponent there will be Grigor Dimitrov, after the Bulgarian earlier defeated Stefanos Tstisipas 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3).

“[I have been] going through quite a difficult stomach virus that really made me feel terrible the past three days, but somehow managing to find strength, find energy under the adrenaline rush of playing a match,” said Djokovic, when asked what he was most proud of this week as he bids for his seventh Paris title. “Not giving up, fighting and believing that I can come back, which happened again and hopefully it can happen tomorrow.”

MAGNIFIQUE NOLE ?

Six-time champ @DjokerNole advances to the showpiece final, defeating Rublev 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 in a THRILLER! @RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/54JL72rafs

Although he broke Rublev’s serve in the opening game of the match, Djokovic was not at his best in the first set inside Accor Arena. Rublev overhauled his early deficit to take the opener with the help of eight unforced errors from the Serbian, including a backhand drop shot that barely made it halfway up the net when set point down.

Djokovic had needed three sets to see off Tallon Griekspoor and Holger Rune in his previous two rounds in Paris and the top seed showed signs of fatigue throughout the match against Rublev. That did not stop him pressuring his opponent in return games, however. He carved out four break points to Rublev’s one in the second set and although neither man could convert, it was Djokovic who raised his level in the tie-break to level the match.

Despite receiving treatment on his lower back before the final set began, Djokovic looked focused as he began to dictate the baseline exchanges against the free-hitting Rublev. The fifth seed saved two break points to escape 15/40 in the fourth game, but he could not do the same at 5-6 as the under-pressure Rublev double-faulted on match point to hand Djokovic the win.

“I was struggling with my fitness again a little bit at the beginning, but I kind of went through it," said Djokovic. "It was crucial obviously to win the second set. The tie-break, I served very well and that helped.

“In the third set, I thought I was always there in his service games, having chances. He came up with some big serves when he needed to, but in the end, a double fault. An unfortunate ending for him, but I think I deserved it considering the amount of effort and fight I put in, especially in the third.”

Should Djokovic win the title on Sunday, he will extend his lead over Carlos Alcaraz to 1490 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, making it highly likely he will claim the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honour for the eighth time.

Rublev now heads to Turin looking to cap a strong year at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 26-year-old has particularly excelled at Masters 1000 events in 2023 — he is tied with Jannik Sinner in third for the most match wins at that level this year.