‘I stayed strong when Stefanos Tsitsipas served for win’

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic suffered three losses on clay this yr earlier than conquering Belgrade and Roland Garros to complete the season on the slowest floor on a excessive notice. This spring, Novak had some unbelievable battles on clay, together with clashes towards Aslan Karatsev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Lorenzo Sonego and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

In Rome, the Serb superior to his twelfth Foro Italico semi-final following a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in three hours and 16 minutes. It was Novak’s fourth straight victory over Stefanos, and he needed to dig deep for it over two days and in numerous situations.

The Monte Carlo champion and the ATP Race chief at that second had the match in his palms, enjoying effectively in the course of the rain on Friday and forging a set and a break lead. The next day, they returned to the courtroom in vastly improved situations, with Novak doing his greatest to drag the break again, seize the second set, and drive a decider.

The Greek stayed aggressive and constructed a 3-1 benefit and 4 extra break possibilities in recreation 5 that might have despatched him excessive had he transformed any.

Novak Djokovic shared his ideas about tight victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Gaining a lift, Novak survived these challenges and pulled the break again a couple of minutes later to face as the favourite in the remainder of the conflict.

Tsitsipas secured a break at 4-4 that pushed him a recreation away from the end line, serving for a spot within the semis. Like many occasions earlier than, Djokovic displayed unbelievable psychological power, pulling the break again and incomes one other in recreation 12 to cross the end line first and begin an enormous celebration.

Novak mentioned that Stefanos was the higher participant on Friday and earlier on Saturday. Nonetheless, he felt higher on the courtroom on the second day, keen to offer his greatest, overpower all of the obstacles and emerge on the high. “Stefanos and I performed in numerous situations yesterday and as we speak; we principally had two completely different matches.

He was the higher participant yesterday, constructing a set and a break lead earlier than the rain halted the motion. Stefanos made an excellent begin as we speak, however I felt I’d have my possibilities in these situations, feeling energetic and pumped. Perhaps I may have gained the second set earlier and made a greater begin within the third.

Total, it was a mighty shut encounter that went right down to the wire. Stefanos was up a break twice within the third and served for the victory earlier than I made a comeback. I stored combating and tried to remain within the match mentally, and it turned out to be the correct strategy in the long run,” Novak Djokovic mentioned.