Post by : Meena Ariff

Novak Djokovic secured his place in the Athens ATP final after a 6-3, 6-4 win against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann on Friday. This victory sets up a championship match with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who reached the final by narrowly defeating Sebastian Korda 6-0, 5-7, 7-5.

The 38-year-old Serbian finished the match in just 79 minutes, finally putting an end to his four-match semi-final drought at major tournaments, which included Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai. His last semi-final triumph was in May at Geneva, where he marked his 100th career singles title. Only Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) have achieved more.

“I believe this was my best performance of the tournament,” Djokovic stated. “It happened at just the right moment. Hanfmann is dangerous with his powerful serve and aggressive play, so I had to remain fully focused.”

Djokovic broke Hanfmann at 3-2 to take the first set 6-3 and managed to recover from an early setback in the second, finishing the match 6-4.

The Athens event, which has taken the place of the brief Belgrade Open on this year's ATP schedule, saw Djokovic receive an enthusiastic cheer from local supporters.
“I appreciate everyone for filling this incredible stadium once more,” he remarked. “I’ve had the opportunity to play in some stunning indoor venues, but this one ranks among the top three.”

Musetti, on the other hand, will be eager to clinch victory in the final, as it would guarantee him a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.

#Global News #Sports News