Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud will lock horns for the chance to be crowned ATP Finals champion after setting up a tantalising final showdown in Turin.
The duo overcame Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev respectively in their semi-finals on Saturday, with Djokovic first up against the American in the afternoon session.
The Serbian was taken all the way to a tiebreaker in both sets of a one-hour and 54-minute long contest, but he managed to prevail 7-6[5] 7-6[6] against a dogged Fritz.
Djokovic broke to love in the fifth game of the match before Fritz earned the break back straight away, and the former could not build on a 30-0 lead in the American's next service game.
Fritz hit seven aces up to and including the tiebreaker, but a couple of unforced errors cost him as Djokovic edged a tight first set before he was broken in the first game of the second.
Fritz held with an ace and so nearly maintained his slender advantage right to the last, establishing a 5-4 lead and moving one game away from a third set on serve.
However, Djokovic was not going down waving the white flag and broke back at a crucial time before gaining the upper hand in the tiebreaker and advancing to the final.
© Reuters
In contrast, Ruud's semi-final success over Rublev was far more straightforward, as the Norwegian triumphed 6-2 6-4 in one hour and eight minutes later in the day.
Despite holding well at first and tallying several winners, the wheels soon fell off for Rublev, who became increasingly frustrated after losing four games on the spin.
Ruud quickly earned the double break and hit consecutive aces in the eighth game to wrap up the first set, and he showed no signs of easing off at the start of the second.
Once again, Rublev was broken twice in quick succession to go 3-0 down and was visibly fighting back tears before Ruud held for his ninth victorious game on the bounce.
A galvanized Rublev came back fighting, albeit far too late, as he held in the fifth game before managing to earn his first break of the match at 5-2 down to just delay the inevitable.
Rublev enjoyed one final hold to love before bowing out, as Ruud prepares to compete in his maiden ATP Finals final against a familiar foe in Djokovic.
The pair have met three times down the years, and Djokovic has won all three contests without dropping a set, most recently winning 6-4 6-3 at the Italian Open in May.
Ben Knapton
