He took the next step towards his dream goal. Novak Djokovic is very close to finishing the sixth season as the world number one and equaling Sampras’ record. He is in the quarterfinals in Vienna, when in the second round he managed with the Croatian tennis player Borná Čorič 7: 6, 6: 3. If he wins the title in the Austrian capital or the Spaniard Rafael Nadal does not accept a wild card for a smaller tournament in Sofia, no one will remove him from the top of the ATP rankings.
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Novak Djokovic celebrates advancing to the third round of the tournament in Vienna
Lisi Niesner, Reuters
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The 33-year-old Djokovic preferred the effort to dominate the rankings again before the start at the Masters in Paris next week. He was supposed to defend the title there, but he would not add any points. That’s why he came to the Erste Bank Open and is currently playing the role of favorite.
Although his performances are not yet dominant, he has achieved the goal. In the first round, he turned away the set-off to compatriot Filip Krajinovič, today he turned away four sets-offs to Born Čorič. Djokovic won the tie-break over the Croatian 13:11 and the second set was clearly 6: 3. He thus became the first quarterfinalist.
Showstopping speed! @DjokerNole is flying around the court today ????#FirstBankOpen pic.twitter.com/JG4Xt0DI5U
– Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 28, 2020
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“Borna is a great fighter. And he plays in a similar style to me. He served well, especially in the first set, it was hard for me to return. But the tie-break again, as well as against Filip, decided the match,” said the winner of 17 grand slams.
Nadal is not playing this week, he competed in a golf tournament with professionals in Mallorca over the weekend and is preparing for the Paris Masters.
Then the events in Sofia and the final Champions Tournament in London remain in the ATP Tour calendar.
| Men’s Tournament in Vienna (hard surface, subsidy 1,550,950 euros): |
| Singles – Round 1: |
| Tsitsipas (3-Greek) – Struff (DEU) 6: 7 (3: 7), 6: 3, 6: 4 |
| Medvedev (4-RUS) – Jung (Taiwan) 6: 3, 6: 1 |
| Sinner (It.) – Ruud (Nor.) 7:6 (7:2), 6:3 |
| Pospisil (Kan.) – Auger-Aliassime (Kan.) 7: 5, 7: 5 |
| Round 2: |
| Djokovic (1-SRB) – Coric (HRV) 7: 6 (13:11), 6: 3 |
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