(Turin) World No.1 Novak Djokovic was beaten in the semifinals of the Turin Masters by the German Alexander Zverev, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-3, who thus deprived of the possibility of winning a sixth title and equaling Roger Federer’s record.
The German, world No.3, had already blocked the way for the Serbian this summer at the Tokyo Olympics, still in the semi-finals, while the latter was trying to conquer his first Olympic title.
In the final, Zverev, who won the Masters in 2018, will face last year’s Masters winner, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, world No.2.
On Saturday, against Djokovic, Zverev was the most solid in the important moments.
After a very solid first set where the two men went blow for blow, it was indeed Zverev who finally took the upper hand in the tiebreaker, while Djokovic had yet obtained a set point at 5 -4.
Accusing the blow, the Serbian initially seemed a notch below at the start of the second set against Zverev, who hardly let go, before taking advantage of a slightly worse service game from the German for break at 5-4 and serve to pick up a sleeve all over. But then again, it was hard, Djokovic needing no less than five set points to finally pocket the second set.
And in the decisive set, it was again Zverev who was the first to make the break taking advantage of two new unforced errors in a forehand from Djokovic. And despite a breakout bullet, the world No. 1 failed to pick up, seeing a record escape him again.
“It was a fantastic game. We have faced each other five times this season and each time it has been a big fight. And for me, no one deserves as much respect as Novak, ”said Zverev on court right after his victory.