Stefanos Tsitsipas stuns Novak Djokovic, who says chasing pack is ‘closer’

Novak Djokovic conceded the challengers to the big three are getting “closer and closer” and then had his point proven as he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Stefanos Tsitsipas came from behind to record an impressive victory over Novak Djokovic and reach the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

The 21-year-old followed up his quarterfinal win over Andrey Rublev by defeating the world number two despite looking like he was in trouble when he dropped the first set.

Tsitsipas claimed a 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 victory against Djokovic in two hours and seven minutes to earn a place in the final against Rafael Nadal.

The two players have a 2-2 record in official head-to-head matches, Tsitsipas acknowledging beforehand their competition is “very intense”.

A break in the first game of the final set proved enough in the decider for Tsitsipas, who had previously held firm in a pivotal second-set tie-break.

That breaker was the key moment of the match, the Greek getting over the line after Djokovic, who is coming off a year where he won two majors, had battled back from 5-1 down to level the second set and move within a few points of winning the contest.

Tsitsipas will play Nadal in the final of the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after the Spaniard comfortably got the better of Karen Khachanov in the second semifinal.

In-form Nadal continued his momentum from a superb end to 2019 with a 6-1 6-3 win where he broke the Russian four times and did not give way on his own serve.

Rublev, meanwhile, claimed fifth place in the tournament by beating Hyeon Chung 7-6 7-6.

The dramatic defeat for Djokovic in the top match of the day came after he had spoken to reporters at the tournament to discuss the upcoming year.

He accepted that the pressure on himself, Nadal and Roger Federer was greater than ever going into the 2020 season.

The big three have won every Grand Slam since Stan Wawrinka came out on top in the 2016 US Open and are embroiled in a battle to end their respective careers with the most Grand Slam titles.

But Tsitsipas, who won the ATP Finals and is being heavily tipped to make the next step, has already made it clear he intends to reach the top three of the rankings next season, with Daniil Medvedev, German Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov all having big aspirations themselves.

And prior to losing to Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic told reporters, per Yahoo Sport, he knew the challenge for the veteran stars to hold on to their places at the top was now tougher than ever.

"“I think it’s a logical and a natural cycle,” he said. “Roger, Rafa and I were saying that it’s going to happen that we’re going to be replaced in the top three spots and the new guys are going to start winning Slams.“We’re trying to prolong that kind of change in men’s tennis, but it’s inevitable that it’s going to happen and each year they are coming closer and closer.“They are already established top-five, top-10 players and our task is that doesn’t happen very soon but it seems like it’s coming closer and closer.“Dominic Thiem played finals of Roland Garros back-to-back. Tsitsipas now won the year-end championships, Alexander Zverev won London the year before. They’re definitely out there challenging the best players in the world and they want to be the best players in the world and they will be, they will become eventually.”"

So Novak Djokovic did not need a reminder ahead of the 2020 season, but Stefanos Tsitsipas’ comeback win gave him one anyway.

It means the Serbian will be playing Khachanov for third place rather than taking on Nadal, who will have to get the better of a Greek playing with significant momentum if he wants to win a record fifth Abu Dhabi title.