Serbia's Novak Djokovic battled through a stirring challenge from rising Canadian star Denis Shapovalov on Friday to propel his country into the semi-finals of the inaugural ATP Cup in Sydney.
Djokovic's fifth victory over the 20-year-old in as many clashes was by far the toughest after Shapovalov controlled significant portions of the match played in Australia's intense summer heat.
The 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 victory, set up earlier by Serbia's Dusan Lajovic's upset win over Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2, means Serbia will play Russia in the semi-final. That clash will see Djokovic face world No 5 Daniil Medvedev, a player who has beaten the Serbian at their last two meetings.
"This was the closest match I have ever played against Denis," Djokovic said after the match. "It was so close it could have gone a different way easily. "He was playing some terrific tennis and I want to give a huge round of applause and credit to him. Well done."
Djokovic, ranked second in the world and peerless during his tour of Australia last year, knew he was in a battle early as he fought hard to hold his service games, while the left-handed Shapovalov swung the ball powerfully around the court.
The Canadian, ranked fourteen in the world, was rewarded with a break, and eventually the first set. He looked most likely to break serve again early in the second, while Djokovic was forced to simply hang on.
After more than a set of tennis, it was Shapovalov, and not Djokovic, who looked like a 16-times grand slam champion.
Djokovic, however, stayed in the match. He hit an awkward but accurate lob to stave off one break point early in the second set, and against all momentum, broke his opponent's serve.
The vocal Serbian supporters erupted. Shapovalov grew frustrated. "It felt, not a little bit, fully like I'm playing at home," Djokovic said after the match.
In less time than it would take for a spectator to line up for a drink in the 35°C heat, Djokovic had won the second set 6-1.
Shapovalov composed himself for the third, and his prospects of upsetting the tour applecart, long dominated by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, improved.
DJOKOVIC DOES IT.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 10, 2020
🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia are going to the semi-finals! #ATPCup | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/JL6KqeP3vC
At 185cm, the young Canadian is around average height for a professional tennis player, but he looked like a giant. He bullied his more fancied opponent, using his single-handed backhand to push Djokovic into the side fencing.
After some late third set drama, where the two exhanged breaks of serve, the match fittingly entered into a tiebreak.
Shapovalov looked most likely – but the Serbian had a joker up his sleeve he has successfully deployed over the years in tense situations.
He simply refused to miss, daring his younger rival to find a way to hit seven winners and claim the tiebreak.
It was too much for the Canadian, and, after floating a ground stroke long, Djokovic raised his arms in victory.
Serbia joins Australia and Russia in qualifying for the semi-finals. The remaining quarter final, between Rafael Nadal's Spain and David Goffin's Belgium, is scheduled for Friday night in Sydney.
