Rome Masters 1000: Djokovic advanced to the semis and maintained the number 1 ranking

Novak Djokovicnumber 1 in the world, defeated Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-5 and 7-6 (1) and advanced to the semifinals of Rome Masters 1000 where he will collide with Norwegian Casper Ruud. Another semi was between the German Alexander Zverev and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The brave Canadian could not be the world’s number 1 Serbian on the center court For Italico. The first duel between both tennis players fell on the side of the favorite, having to push himself to the maximum to resist the aggression of his young rival and maintain the first position in the ATP rankings, which would have yielded to the Russian. Daniel Medvedev in case you give up on short of clay Italian to this day.

And this is what Auger-Aliassime did, who has been called one of the greats of his generation nolemainly in his serves in the first set, in which he signed six aces. He missed no second, where he finished five and eleven in total.

Djokovic, who was uncomfortable at the start of the match, opposed by the long exchange of blows where he gained the confidence to take on two rights that raised the Italian public. The Serbian is gradually becoming great.

He broke the serve of the Canadian, number 9 in the world, and 5-3 up to get the first set on the trackbut Auger-Aliassime recovered and snatched the serve from the favorite in the next game, nullifying the break. Apparently the first bet is going tie-breakerpBut the number one number 1 appeared at the crucial moment to destroy another service and be first on the scoreboard.

The second manga is different. The Serbian started better, Auger-Aliassime seemed to deflate a bit, and was able to break the Canadian, after three balls of break to get 4-2.

Novak was on his way to victory, but at that moment Auger-Aliassime began his fight, where he was satisfied with two balls to regain his service that put tension on the Serbian, until he can confirm the break and get 5-2 up. celebrated noleraised fist, released the tension of the previous game, unknowingly not saying everything.

But the 21-year-old tennis player continued his brilliant endurance workout against a winner of twenty Grand Slam tournaments, which he sent to the canvas with three consecutive games in the tournament (5-5). Their favorite night is already in public, which they inspire and celebrate whenever the opportunity arises.

Auger-Aliassime maintained his serve and tried to extend the fight into the third set by breaking the Serb. He was able to extend it to a tie-breaker where both presented their coup de gala, but where he sent a very good Djokovic along dropangled balls and alas the physique allowing him to reach all his rivals.

Djokovic didn’t fail in another crucial moment, breaking Auger-Aliassime’s three Serves in the final tie break and reaching the semifinals without dropping a set. He was the only one to achieve this with the German Alexander Zverev.

The Serbian celebrated defiantly, placing a hand on his ear. In the semifinals, Djokovic will face Norwegian Casper Ruudnumber 10 in the ranking, which eliminated Canadian Denis Shapovalov – Rafael Nadal’s executioner – in straight sets on Friday.