Djokovic maintains 100 per cent record over Hurkacz, ATP Finals final four fate hangs in balance

Novak Djokovic edged his way towards the semi-finals of the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals by beating alternate Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1.

The last match in the Green Group is tonight, as Jannik Sinner – who is definitely already qualified – plays Holger Rune. If the Italian wins, then he also wins the group and Djokovic will go through in second place; if the Dane wins, then Djokovic is out.

Djokovic – always the favourite in tiebreaks – powered through the closing stages of the opening set, winning 10 consecutive points from 6-5 onwards.

Hurkacz, who replaced the injured Stefanos Tsitsipas, went into the match with a 0-7 record against Djokovic as well as an 0-3 record at the ATP Finals after his previous appearance in 2021.

Hurkacz can take a crumb of comfort from some of the statistics, serving 24 aces – the most against Djokovic in a three-set match since Nick Kyrgios in Acapulco in 2017. Indeed, he did not drop a point on his first serve in the second set.

He will be less pleased with his 41 unforced errors compared to his opponent’s 13; plus, over the course of the entire match, Djokovic won 73 per cent of his second-serve points to Hurkacz’s 32 per cent.

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