Post by : Meena
Hassan
Novak Djokovic made a strong statement by reaching the Athens ATP final with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann on Friday. This victory sets him up for a title showdown with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who progressed by defeating Sebastian Korda 6-0, 5-7, 7-5.
The seasoned 38-year-old Serbian star needed only 79 minutes to overcome Hanfmann, breaking a streak of four consecutive semi-final losses at major tournaments: Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai. His last success in a semi-final match took place in May at Geneva, where he claimed his 100th career singles title. Legendary players Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) have more titles than him.
“I believe this was my finest performance during the tournament,” Djokovic stated. “The timing was perfect. Hanfmann's strong serve and aggressive play meant I had to remain very concentrated.”
Djokovic secured the first set by breaking Hanfmann at 3-2 and managed to recover from an initial break in the second set to finish the match 6-4.
This Athens event takes the place of the brief Belgrade Open on this year's ATP schedule, and Djokovic delighted the local crowd with his performance.
“Thank you for filling up this incredible stadium again,” he acknowledged. “I’ve competed in some of the most stunning indoor venues globally, but this one definitely ranks among the top three.”
On the other hand, Musetti will have extra motivation in the final, as a win would guarantee him a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.
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