For the very first time this season, it seemed Novak Djokovic wasn’t going to get to the semifinals of a major competition. The Serbian, who has never missed out on the last four stages since winning the Roland Garros in Paris had to wait for an anxious victory from Jannik Sinner. The 36-year-old star has been in amazing form this season winning six out of eight competitions he featured in.
Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic on Tuesday night and had to do the Serbian a big favor by winning Holger Rune in the last game of Green Group for Djokovic to qualify for the semifinals of the ATP Finals.
Jannik Sinner saves Novak Djokovic in ATP Finals
For the first time Novak Djokovic didn’t have control of his own destiny. The Serbian after defeating Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1 in the early clash in Green Group had to wait for Jannik Sinner to edge past Holger Rune 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in order to be qualify to compete in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.
Jannik Sinner was in total command of the Green Group with a 3-0 record, earning victories against Stefanos Tsitsipas (who later withdrew from the event and was replaced by Hubert Hurkacz), Djokovic and Rune. Novak Djokovic went 2-1, defeating Holger Rune and Hubert Hurkacz.
Thanks to the Italian’s perfect display because had Rune defeated Sinner, Djokovic would have been eliminated. However, tennis fans hope that the Serbian is now two wins from claiming a record seventh Nitto ATP Finals title. Sinner is the first Italian in history to advance to the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.
Jannik Sinner says he needed to beat Rune to confirm everything he did well against Djokovic. “I felt some pain in the second set, but then it disappeared. It was in a specific movement, but really everything is fine in my body. I never thought about having to retire or anything like that. For me, it was very important to win this match because I needed to confirm everything I had done well against Novak.”
Tennis fans praise Jannik Sinner after defeating Holger Rune
Jannik Sinner has since been praised by fans and tennis lovers for his show of professionalism throughout the game. The Italian got injured in the second set after winning the first set 6-2 but he continued and fought till the last, making sure that Novak Djokovic earned a place in the last four.
Many Djokovic and tennis fans reacted on X formerly known as twitter hailing Sinner as a man of dignity and ethics. A fan tweeted in X, “Sinner is a noble professional. He played through injury to show he’s a man, not some wimpy child, who could have retired in this match. One commentator during this match, wanted him to retire badly, that was all he contributed after the injury. Guess, he wanted Sinner’s team to hear and pull of their guy. Shame on such pretenders to sports jurnos.”
Another fan reacted, hailing Jannik’s character, “This revealed his character and confirmed he has dignity. I wasn’t sure he wouldn’t tank and be strategic, he did not and earned new fans and the respect of tennis lovers. Thanks for confirming your ethics.”
A tennis lover added, “He played tough. I like him even more after today. He could’ve just said see ya. I’m done.”
However, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are yet to know who they will meet, as Red Group seeks a commander when Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz meet in the evening.
