URIN, Italy (AP) – For the second time this year, Alexander Zverev has denied Novak Djokovic the chance to play for a big trophy.
Following up his win over the top-ranked player in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics, Zverev beat Djokovic 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 at the same stage of the ATP Finals on Saturday.
“Every time we play against each other, it’s very high level,” Zverev said. “This year we played each other five times. … Every time we played for multiple hours and it was very physical.”
The result means Djokovic can’t match Roger Federer’s record of six titles at the season-ending event for the top eight players. At least not this year.
Instead, Zverev will play second-ranked Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.
Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion, beat first-time qualifier Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2 earlier as he seeks to defend his title in the first edition of the tournament in Turin – after 12 years in London.
Medvedev has won his last five meetings with Zverev, including a round-robin match earlier this week that was decided in a third-set tiebreaker.
Zverev won this event in 2018.