Alexander Zverev eases past Hubert Hurkacz, expects ‘entertaining’ semi-final against Novak Djokovic

ATP Tour
A fist pump from Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic will face each other for a fifth time in 2021 after the former defeated Hubert Hurkacz to reach the semi-final of the ATP Finals.

Following his walkover win over Matteo Berrettini and defeat to Daniil Medvedev, Zverev knew any win would secure his place in the last four and he pulled off an emphatic victory over Hurkacz, winning 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour.

The opening set lasted just 23 minutes as Zverev raced into a 4-0 lead on the back of breaks in game one and three. Although the Pole put up a better fight in the second set, the third seed broke his resistance in game nine and then served it out.

The 2018 ATP Finals champion will take on world No 1 Djokovic for a place on the final, which will be a repeat of their Tokyo Olympics and US Open semi-finals.

Zverev stunned the 20-time Grand Slam winner at the Tokyo Games before Djokovic turned the tables at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic, though, also leads their head-to-head this season 3-1 while he has a 7-3 advantage overall.

US Open champion Medvedev is already assured of his place in the final and he will face the winner of the Andrey Rublev-Casper Ruud match.

“Today was a tough match mentally because I needed to win, so I was 100 per cent focused,” the said. “It was very up and down, and I am happy to be through and win in straight sets.

“You can always improve. The margins are always very small between the top players, but to win you have to do the details right. I hope I can do that on Saturday.”

He added: “I have played Novak in every single big hard-court tournament this year. We are making a habit of playing in the later rounds at big tournaments. It is going to be an entertaining one I think.”

Alexander Zverev Hubert Hurkacz Novak Djokovic

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