Semi-finals day at the Astana Open ATP 500 event went underway earlier today in Astana, Kazakhstan.
In the first semi-final, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas took on fifth seed Andrey Rublev in what was a high octane clash. Rublev managed to have the advantage in the first phase as he took the first set 6-4 after breaking the Tsitsipas serve early on. But Tsitsipas turned things around in style to win the next two sets 6-4 6-3 to make it through to the finals. The Greek also saved 5 of 6 break points over the course of the match. As time went on, his game seemed to improve and he was able to hold off Rublev.
In the second semi-final, probably the one everyone were waiting for, it was fourth seed Novak Djokovic up against second seed Daniil Medvedev, who was looking like a tough nut to crack. The first set proved to be a tough one for both as they failed to hold their service games often. Medvedev constantly put pressure on the Serb as he made him work and returned almost everything that was thrown at him. It was 3-3 in the first set when Medvedev broke the Serbian’s serve to go 4-3 up and hold it to win the first set 6-4.
The second set proved to be a display of exhibition level tennis as both players were pushed to the absolute zenith. Djokovic eventually won an enticing tiebreak to clinch the second set 7-6 (8-6 in the tiebreak). At 5-5 in the tiebreak, Medvedev played an easy volley onto the net and couldn’t comprehend with the disbelief. Novak made the similar mistake on set point himself. But eventually he able to win the set. As the players changed ends, Medvedev approached Djokovic and they shook hands and eventually the Russian retired from the match.
Later Djokovic revealed that Medvedev had told him that he felt discomfort in his abductor muscle. Medvedev was seemingly looking more exhausted in the final few moments of the match and it probably hinted that he was going to make the decision. But it came as an absolute shock and even Djokovic took some time to accept things.
But the Serb was through to the final along with Tsitsipas where Djokovic will start his quest for a 90th career title. Sunday awaits.
Image credit: Twitter/atptour
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