Novak Djokovic’s search for a seventh title at the Paris Rolex Masters continues despite the Serb suffering from fitness issues.
Djokovic dug deep as he looks to win a 40th Masters 1000 title after he defeated Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-7(1) 7-6(3) in a three hour epic.
The world number one had to be resilient as he struggled with back problems throughout the contest but has now set up a final with Grigor Dimitrov.
Speaking after the match Djokovic spoke about his fitness concerns and stomach issues while also praising Rublev’s performance, “I was struggling with my fitness again a little bit at the beginning, but I kind of went through it,” Djokovic told the ATP website.
“It was crucial obviously to win the second set. The tie-break, I served very well and that helped. In the third set, I thought I was always there in his service games, having chances. He came up with some big serves when he needed to, but in the end, a double fault. An unfortunate ending for him, but I think I deserved it considering the amount of effort and fight I put in, especially in the third.
“Rublev was suffocating me like a snake suffocates a frog for most of the match. He was playing an extremely high level that he possesses, but today he was off the charts, honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever faced Rublev this good.
“[I have been] going through quite a difficult stomach virus that really made me feel terrible the past three days, but somehow managing to find strength, find energy under the adrenaline rush of playing a match.
“Not giving up, fighting and believing that I can come back, which happened again and hopefully it can happen tomorrow.”
Djokovic is now 9-0 in semi-finals at the event and will look to win a seventh title tomorrow.
