[ad_1]
Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego (R) is congratulated by Serbian Novak Djokovic after the quarterfinal match of the ATP tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, on October 30, 2020. (Photo by GEORG HOCHMUTH / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT
Novak Djokovic shrugged off his toughest loss on Friday by insisting that he had achieved his goal of finishing the year as world number one for the sixth time.
Djokovic was upset 6-2, 6-1 by Italian lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego in the quarterfinals of the ATP tournament in Vienna.
But having won two rounds in the Austrian capital, the 33-year-old Djokovic is practically guaranteed to match Pete Sampras’s record of securing year-end qualification for the sixth time.
“Securing the number one end of the year had an effect on me,” Djokovic told a news conference.
“I’ve done what I came here to do, make sure of number one. And I am completely fine with today’s result.
“I’m healthy and I hope to have a good finish in London (the season-end ATP Finals).”
Italian Sonego, ranked 42nd and who had initially lost in qualifying last weekend, is the first lucky loser to beat Djokovic.
The only other time that Djokovic won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best of five sets match.
“He just took me off the court, that’s all,” Djokovic told atptour.com.
“He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad game for me, but incredible for him.
“He definitely deserved this result,” added the Serbian star who was playing his first tournament since his final Roland Garros loss to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago.
‘Incredible, amazing’
Serbian Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego during their ATP tennis tournament quarter-final match in Vienna, Austria, on October 30, 2020. (Photo by GEORG HOCHMUTH / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT
Djokovic can only be denied the year-end world number one spot if Nadal takes an unlikely wild card at the Sofia tournament next month.
The Spaniard has already said, however, that traveling to Bulgaria after next week’s Paris Masters and before London is not on his agenda.
Sonego fired 26 winners over Djokovic, who lost for the third time in 2020 against 39 wins.
Djokovic, a 17-time Major Champion, had just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.
“It sure is the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played very, very well, ”said Sonego.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing. I played the best game of my life. I’m so happy about this.”
Sonego will face Britain’s Dan Evans, who defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, for a place in Sunday’s final.
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost on Friday, falling 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev.
Rublev hit 30 winners over the US Open champion and will then face South Africa’s Kevin Anderson for a place in the final.
“I came here in the spirit that I have nothing to lose,” said Rublev, who is seeking a fifth of the year title.
“I already had a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, I just wanted to do my best. To try to fight every game. In the end, I am here in the semifinals ”.
Anderson reached the semifinals counting for fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
It was the first top-10 win in two years for 2018 champion Anderson.
Read next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
