Novak Djokovic advanced to the championship match on Saturday at the Astana Open after Daniil Medvedev retired from the pair’s semi-final clash at the end of the second set due to a leg injury.
Daniil Medvedev, who took the first set retired due to an injury after losing a thrilling tie-break in the second set as the scoreline read 4-6, 7-6(6).
“I really hope that his injury is nothing too serious,” Djokovic was quoted by ATP after the match.
“I know Daniil, he’s a great guy, he’s a fighter, he’s a big competitor. He wouldn’t retire a match if he didn’t feel that he [could] continue or [if it wouldn’t] worsen his injury. He told me that he pulled an adductor muscle in his leg.
“It was such a close match, particularly in the second set. I would probably say he was a better player on the court in both sets. I was fighting and trying to find a way. I found a way to win the second, but I’m just sad for the tournament and for these people who were enjoying the battle, and for Daniil that it had to end this way.”
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Fascinating battle between Medvedev and Novak Djokovic
The match was proving to be one of the best we have seen this year but had to end with a sad outcome for the fans. There was nothing to separate them in the second set with Medvedev fighting hard in the tie-break, only to be edged out before he retired.
It was an amazing tiebreak, one where Djokovic went up 4-1 only to see Medvedev battle back to 5-5. The Russian then missed a relatively easy volley on the net to go up 6-5 giving Djokovic a set point.
With this win, the Serbian advances to the final of the Astana Open to face the Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas for the championship.
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