Alexander Zverev books ATP Finals semi-final date with Novak Djokovic

Alexander Zverev books ATP Finals semi-final date with Novak Djokovic after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets in Turin

  • Alexander Zverev beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4 at the ATP Finals in Turin
  • The German now faces World No 1 Novak Djokovic for the fifth time this season
  • Pole Hurkacz lost all of his matches on his debut at the season-ending finals
  • Brit Cameron Norrie was eliminated after his losing first match to Casper Rudd 

Alexander Zverev booked a semi-final date against Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals with victory over Hubert Hurkacz.

Third seed Zverev bounced back from his narrow loss to Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-4 success against Pole Hurkacz, who has lost all three matches on his debut.

Saturday’s clash will be a fifth of the season between Zverev and Djokovic, all on hard courts, with the world No 1 winning at the Australian Open, US Open and ATP Cup but Zverev claiming a huge victory at the Olympics.


Alexander Zverev booked a semi-final date against Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals in Turin

The German said: ‘We played basically every single big event this year on hard court against each other. We played at the Australian Open, we played at the Olympics, and we played at the US Open, so it’s only right that we play each other here as well.

‘I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s always interesting. It’s always close when we play each other, so I’m looking forward to hopefully another tough one.’

After a promising display in defeat by Medvedev in his first match, Hurkacz was well beaten by alternate Jannik Sinner two days ago and was all at sea in the opening set here.

The third seed beat Pole Hubert Hurkacz, who lost all three of his matches on his debut 

The German bounced back from his narrow loss to Daniil Medvedev to beat Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4

The seventh seed won just two points in the opening four games and, although he improved in the second set, he could not build on some promising moments and dropped serve in the ninth game.

It has nevertheless been an excellent season for Hurkacz, who won his first Masters title in Miami and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

Zverev’s victory means Thursday evening’s clash between Medvedev and Sinner is a dead rubber, with the former already assured of topping the group and Italian Sinner unable to reach the last four.

Fellow alternate Cameron Norrie was eliminated after losing his first match against Casper Ruud on Wednesday but he still has a contest to play against Green Group winner Djokovic.

British No 1 stepped in as alternate but was eliminated in his first match against Casper Ruud

And the British No 1 is determined to make the most of the occasion, saying: ‘I can’t wait. I have never played Novak before, never practised with him. So it’s a first for me, and I’m not sure if I played a world number one before. I’m looking forward to it.

‘He’s playing great. He’s firing. Really feeling the ball well. He’s really good in these conditions. It’s quite quick, the court. A little bit of altitude.

‘It’s going to be difficult but I’m looking forward to it and another test for me. I’m going to go out and see if I belong and can compete with a guy like that.’




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