ATP Finals: Djokovic Produces comeback win against Hubert Hurkacz, await semi-final fate

Novak Djokovic defeated alternate Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-1, overcoming a setback in the second set to maintain his hopes of making it to the Turin semifinals on Thursday.

The 36-year-old Djokovic finished the match with 13 unforced errors, compared to Hurkacz’s 41, including 23 from his forehand. The Belgrade native also was more dominant behind his second serve, winning 73 per cent of his second-serve points to his opponent’s 32 per cent.

”I was focussed to win [my] match, so I did. The outcome of tonight’s match is not in my hands, that’s it,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “I’m really not thinking about it.”

With Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner’s match to come, Djokovic, who is now 2-1 in the Green Group, must win for him to move on.

Djokovic navigated through a hard-hitting, first-strike match against Hurkacz, with whom the Serbian now has a 7-0 Lexus ATPHead2Head record, with the goal of securing a 12th semi-final spot in 16 Nitto ATP Finals appointments.

Over the two hours and four minutes of play, both players fought for court positioning, tightly hugging the baseline behind their serves.

As a result of Djokovic’s three three-set matches during the group stage, the defending champion has played for more than eight hours total.

This week, Djokovic hopes to add another Nitto ATP Finals championship to his record, hoping to pass Roger Federer and become the only player with seven.

The Six-time ATP Finals champion’s semi-final fate is now in Sinner’s hands. If the Italian defeats Rune on Thursday evening, Djokovic will finish second in Green Group and move on. If Rune beats Sinner, the Dane will win the group and the home favourite will qualify second, eliminating Djokovic. The Serbian has not been ousted in Nitto ATP Finals group play since 2019.