Novak Djokovic seals 999th career win in a classic against Felix Auger-Aliassime to progress to Italian Open semi-finals
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Updated 14/05/2022 at 16:31 GMT
After crashing out to Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid Open semi-finals last weekend, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has followed up impressive wins against Aslan Karatsev and Stan Wawrinka this week with an emphatic victory against Felix Auger Aliassime in their first ever meeting on the ATP tour. Djokovic, a five-time champion in Rome, will play clay-court specialist Casper Ruud in the final four.
Highlights: Djokovic battles past Auger-Aliassime to reach Rome semi-finals
Novak Djokovic is through to the Italian Open semi-finals after a thrilling 7-5 7-6(1) win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Djokovic was relatively untroubled as he pursues a sixth Rome title, producing one of his best performances in 2022 to record a stylish 999th career win.
The straight-sets masterclass from the 20-time Grand Slam winner, in what was arguably the best match of the clay season so far, means he will play Norway's Casper Ruud in Saturday's semi-final.
"I thought I could have finished the job [against Auger-Aliassime] earlier," Djokovic said on-court afterwards. "I was a set and 5-2 up and was serving for the match, but credit to him for fighting back. Amazing atmosphere as well tonight."
On facing Ruud next, Djokovic said: "Great quality opponent. A clay-court specialist, but he has improved a lot on other surfaces and played in the final at Miami this year.
"A very hard worker, nice guy. We practice a lot and get on well off the court. Tomorrow on the court we want to win against each other no doubt."
After a tight opening to the first set, Djokovic thought he got a breakthrough in the eighth game, breaking the Auger-Aliassime serve when the Canadian fired a forehand long after a lengthy rally. But Auger-Aliassime fought back immediately to get the tie on serve after Djokovic miscontrolled a backhand.
Both players engaged in a high-quality baseline battle, but Djokovic snatched the set on Auger Aliassime's serve thanks to a violent cross-court winner. Djokovic let out a passionate roar having won a set where he made only seven unforced errors.
Auger-Aliassime retained his composure in a tense opening to the second set where neither player gave up a break point. That was until the sixth game when Auger-Aliassime slipped on the clay to hand Djokovic two.
Although the world No. 10 rescued both with an ace and a forehand winner, a string of unforced errors from the 21-year-old presented Djokovic with a further two. Djokovic made no mistake on the fourth attempt, finishing off a sensational rally by lobbing his opponent.
Djokovic saved two break points to move within a game of the semi-finals. Auger-Aliassime just about held his next service game, saving a match point, before breaking back to 5-5 after a rare unforced error from Djokovic.
A few tense games ticked along with serve before a conclusion was reached in the tie-break. Djokovic seized the early initiative with a perfect drop shot to go 2-0 up.
Djokovic did not relent after that, bamboozling Auger-Aliassime with a flurry of fine winners to seal his place in the last four.
RUUD BEATS SHAPOVALOV, TSITSIPAS TO FACE ZVEREV
Ruud advanced to his first European clay-court semi-final with a 7-6(7) 7-5 win over Denis Shapovalov.
The 23-year-old, who reached the Rome semi-finals in 2020, had to work hard in a tight match against the Canadian who knocked out Rafael Nadal in the previous round.
"I think one of the most important things on clay is to put a lot of first serves in. Today was working well," Ruud said.
"I was serving well all match. At the beginning you are sometimes a bit nervous and excited to start, but after that I was able to calm down and find my tempo."
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Highlights: Ruud reaches Rome semis after hard-fought win over Shapovalov
Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame home favourite Jannik Sinner 7-6(5) 6-2 in two hours and 24 minutes to reach the Rome semi-finals for the second time in his career.
“I am happy things turned out well. It was a great day at the office,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview.
"I was able to really step it up in the second set and I think the most important part was that first set tie-break. I really went for it when I had to.
"I didn’t overthink or hesitate and that paid off in the end."
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Highlights: Tsitsipas produces hard-fought win over Sinner to set up Zverev semi-final
Tsitsipas will play Alexander Zverev who beat Cristian Garin 7-5 6-2 which will be the third time the two players have met in a Masters semi-final.
“It was a high-level match. At times it wasn’t pretty tennis, but I got the job done and that is the most important thing,” the German said afterwards.
“I am through to the semi-finals and I am happy about that.”
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Highlights: Zverev beats Garin in straight sets to secure Rome semi-final spot
Ahead of Tsitsipas' meeting with Zverev, the Greek said: "We have similar game styles but he is one of the most difficult players to play against on the tour.
"I have a lot of respect for him. He has achieved a lot so far and I try and look up to him with the things he has achieved."
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