Paris, November 8 (Udaipur Kiran): Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic ended his streak of semifinal defeats on Friday, storming into the final of the ATP Athens Tournament with a dominant straight-sets victory over Germany’s qualifier Yannick Hanfmann. Djokovic took just 79 minutes to win 6-3, 6-4 and secure his place in the title clash.
The 38-year-old’s serve was broken only once in the match, yet he remained in full control throughout. In the final, Djokovic will face either Sebastian Korda of the USA or Lorenzo Musetti of Italy. Interestingly, Musetti must win the Athens title to qualify for the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin.
After the match, Djokovic said, “This was my best tennis of the tournament so far, and it came at the right time. Hanfmann is a dangerous player — his serve and groundstrokes are strong, so I had to stay focused from start to finish.”
The victory was particularly significant for Djokovic, as it ended his run of four consecutive semifinal losses — at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai Masters. His last semifinal win came in May at the Geneva Clay Court Tournament, where he went on to beat Hubert Hurkacz in the final to clinch his 100th career singles title. Among male players, only Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109) have more titles.
In Friday’s semifinal, Djokovic broke Hanfmann’s serve at 3-2 to take the first set 6-3. Though he briefly lost his serve at 2-1 in the second set, he broke back immediately to level at 3-3 before sealing the match with a decisive break.
Addressing the packed crowd after his win, Djokovic said, “Thank you all for filling this beautiful stadium again. I’ve played in many amazing indoor arenas around the world, but this one is definitely among the top three of my career.”
This year’s Athens Tournament has replaced the now-discontinued Belgrade Open, and Djokovic’s performance here has turned the event into a celebration for local fans.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
