JAKARTA - Novak Djokovic passed the semifinals by beating Taylor Fritz 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in Turin, Saturday, to secure a place in the final of the ATP Finals.
Fritz's passionate performance made the American narrow the margin in the first set and advanced to lead 5-3 in the second set.
Despite consistently struggling to find the best level, Djokovic found a way to get past the second tie-break when he won in a 54-minute hour which was fought hard.
"I have to fight to survive," said Djokovic, as reported by Antara from the ATP website, Sunday, November 20.
"I don't feel very reactive today or very comfortable. I know I came to the game today from yesterday's tiring fight against Medvedev."
"I knew I needed time to adjust and find the dynamic movement I needed against Fritz, who is one of the best service owners in Tur."
The seventh seed Djokovic featured a solid rather than spectacular performance, scoring only 21 winners while eighth seed Fritz recorded 31 winners.
Djokovic's energy seemed exhausted when he faced Medvedev on Friday, in a three-hour 11-minute match to claim victory.
"I have to be very patient, I didn't start the second set very well," said Djokovic.
"But I managed to break his service at 5-4 when he served for the set, like when Medvedev served for yesterday's game."
"At that time I found another force and managed to hold my courage and made him play another blow on the tie-break," Djokovic said.
"I'm very happy to have overcome this one because I don't think it was one of my best days with my tennis, but I managed to stay there."
With this victory, Djokovic has the opportunity to equal the record for six Roger Federer titles at the ATP Finals when he facesny Ruud or Andrey Rublev who fights for a slot in the final.
If Djokovic manages to lift the trophy, he will also claim the biggest fee in tennis history, which is 4,740,300 US dollars or around Rp74 billion.
Djokovic is chasing his fifth tour level title this season in Turin after winning Roma, Wimbledon, Tel Aviv and Astana.
The 35-year-old now holds a career record of losing 45-17 at the ATP Finals, where he lifted the trophy in 2008 in Shanghai and in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 in London.
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