Novak Djokovic Breaks Into Athens Final After Semi-Final Win

The 38-year-old Serb, Novak Djokovic, returned to his dominant best as he swept past Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets on Friday to book his place in the ATP Athens Final. He ended his four-match semifinal losing streak with a 6-3, 6-4 win that took just 79 minutes.

Djokovic Snaps His Semifinal Losing Streak

Before the win in Athens, Novak Djokovic lost four straight semifinals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai. This victory means his first semifinal success since the Geneva Open in May, when he went on to secure his 100th career title.

Indeed, only Roger Federer with 103 titles and Jimmy Connors with 109 have won more singles titles than Djokovic, underlining the Serb’s remarkable longevity and consistency on tour.

Straight-Sets Win Over Hanfmann

Facing German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, Djokovic produced his most composed performance of the week. The top seed missed an early break opportunity at 2-1, but then broke at 3-2 as he went on to claim the first set 6-3.

In the second set, Djokovic was briefly tested when he lost serve at 2-1 – only the second time he has dropped serve in the entire tournament. But the world number one immediately broke back to level at 3-3, then broke again in the next game to close out the set and match.

“It was the best tennis I’ve played in this tournament,” said Djokovic following the victory. “Hanfmann serves big and plays aggressively, so I needed to stay focused from start to finish.”

Athens Crowd Fuels Djokovic’s Momentum

Feeling the electric atmosphere, Novak Djokovic was energized playing in front of a passionate Greek crowd. The ATP event in Athens replaced the now-defunct Belgrade Open on this year’s calendar and gave Djokovic something of a home-court feel.

“Thank you for filling this amazing stadium again,” he told the fans. “I’ve played in some of the most beautiful indoor arenas in the world, but this is definitely one of the top three I’ve ever played in.”

Djokovic Eyes 101st Career Title

The 38-year-old will now meet either Sebastian Korda or Lorenzo Musetti in the final. Musetti must win the tournament to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, adding an extra layer to the championship storyline.

Victory in Athens would bring Djokovic his 101st ATP title and also offer solid momentum heading into the season-ending ATP Finals, at which he is always a favorite.