JAKARTA - Novak Djokovic reached the final of the ATP tournament in Astana on Saturday local time after his opponent Daniil Medvedev surprisingly withdrew at the end of the second set.
Under 4-6, 7-6 (8), Medvedev decided to surrender before the decision set, even Djokovic was initially surprised.
"This is the second time in my life I've stepped down like this because of the interested muscles," Medvedev was quoted as saying by Antara from AFP. "At the second point of the tie-break, I found it a bit strange on my driver.
"At first I thought maybe this was a cramp and after that I felt, 'No, maybe not a cramp'."
Djokovic will face Stefanos Tstisipas in Sunday's final as he aims for his 90th ATP title.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion has won seven of his nine meetings with the Greek tennis player, including in last year's French Open final.
Medvedev became the first player to beat Djokovic in singles since Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final.
Djokovic equalized in that dramatic match where both players were in his best game during a tense tie-break.
But Medvedev signaled he couldn't continue playing so he sent Djokovic to the 128th ATP final for him.
"A very tight match, especially in the second set," Djokovic added of the fight between the two former world number one.
Previously, Tsitsipas' third seed defeated Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the sixth final of the season.
"I am happy with myself because I have so many muscles that everything goes very well," said Tsitsipas.
A break in the opening game made Rublev the fifth-seeded take the first set.
But Tsitsipas, who saved five of the six break points in the match, took the second set to force the decision set to be played.
The 24-year-old returned solid in the third set by closing wins after a fight for two hours 10 minutes to set his head-to-head record against Rublev to 6-4.
"My mentality has changed a bit," added Tsitsipas. "I played with a more aggressive and unlucky style of play."
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