Djokovic Closes In On No. 1 At Paris Masters; Zverev v Medvedev In Final Rematch
The field at the ATP Final is set as Hubert Hurkacz became the 8th and last entrant into the prestigious event after edging James Duckworth 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-5.
The 24-year-old is the first Polish player to qualify for the final eight.
“It feels incredible. Obviously going to Turin is a dream,” Hurkacz said. “Growing up as a kid, seeing all those top guys playing in the Finals, it’s inspiring. Now being among them, it’s very special because it’s just eight spots there, so it’s not that easy to get there.”
Hurkacz still has a prize to contend for this week. The Miami champion is two wins from another Masters but will meet world No. 1 Novak Djokovic tomorrow.
The Serb closed in on wrapping up the year-end top spot with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Taylor Fritz. But it wasn’t a great day on the court.
“I am pleased with the way I played against Fucsovics and today I did have ups and downs. I am not really pleased with the way I closed out the sets. I lost my serve to love , then 5-3, again, I served for it with new balls and lost to love again. Those kind of things shouldn’t happen, I know that. I backed myself up with good returns and read Taylor’s serve very well to get into rallies. I closed out the last couple of service games well and that’s a positive.”
Daniil Medvedev continued to pressure Djokovic in the No. 1 race. The Paris defending champion came from a break down in the first to defeat French qualifier 7-6(7), 6-4. Gaston, who will be part of the NextGen event next week, served for the first at 5-4 but failed to close.
“You need to try to win no matter what. Even when it is against me, I think, ‘Well, I will try to beat my opponent and the crowd’ because there is no other choice. I am kind of happy about myself, but it was definitely a high-level match,” Medvedev said.
Up next for the Russian is a huge showdown with Alexander Zverev. The German eased past Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4. He’s now won 28 of his last 30 matches.
“I thought he served extremely well today which made it very difficult to break,” Zverev said. “I’m happy with the win and to be in the semifinals.”
Zverev leads Medvedev 5-4 but the Russian has won the last three with wins at the ATP Cup and last year at the ATP finals and the final in Paris last year.
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