Djokovic edges Federer to reach Rolex Paris Masters final

Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the Rolex Paris Masters after an intense three hour duel on Saturday night with Roger Federer.

Novak Djokovic moved into the final of the Rolex Paris Masters after a three hour match against Roger Federer. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

The Serb claimed his place in Sunday’s final 7-6, 5-7, 7-6. He will play the unseeded Russian Karen Kachanov who destroyed the fifth seed Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 to reach his first championship match at a Masters series.

The events are considered as the most prestigious on the circuit after the Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic who has claimed 33 of them, is the only player to have won Masters crowns at all nine venues. Federer has 26 Masters trophies.

Success on Sunday for the Swiss would have been his 100^th tour title. But he was denied the chance to compete for his century by a Djokovic who underlined his credentials as world number one with a performance of consistency and nerve.

After edging Federer in the opening set tiebreak, he lost his service for the only time in the match when trying to take the second set into a tiebreak.

In the decider, he squandered two break points on Federer’s opening service game and two more when the third seed was attempting to take a 5-4 lead.

Djokovic maintained his composure while twice serving to stay in the match. After the tension of the previous hours, the final set shootout was flaccid.

After Federer opened his account with a forehand winner, Djokovic swept up the next six points. He eventually took the tiebreak seven points to three to register his 25^th win in their 47^th encounter.

Novak is obviously on a roll,” said Federer of a player who over the past four months has won Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open as well as Masters in Cincinnati and Shanghai. “You can feel it. He protects his serve very well. I think I did the same as well. And at the end it came down to a few things here and there.”

The 14,000 fans packed stadium at the AccorHotels Arena in Bercy were treated to scintillating shotmaking and sly angles from men who have collected all of the game’s leading prizes.

“It’s the best match I’ve played all year,” said Djokovic. “The rivalries with Roger as well as Rafael Nadal are the biggest in my career. They’re always matches with lots of tension and quality as well. It went right down to the last point. When I play against Roger it takes everything I have to be able to win.”