We almost forget it after the little burnout in the wake of his failures at the US Open and the Olympics, but what year Novak Djokovic is laying us. By coming to stop the beautiful course of Hubert Hurkacz at Bercy (3-6, 6-0, 7-6) in three intense rounds (especially the last), the Serbian offers himself the seventh final of his career at Bercy and, since the number 7 brings him luck, the right to finish the year in world number one for the seventh time in his career. Something to be proud of the beast: “I am very proud and grateful to be able to mark history with this position of number 1.”
Nobody does so well, not even “the idol” Pete Sampras, now in the rearview mirror of the Serbian, who did not hide Friday having come to Paris to “keep this place”. To which he would add, still breathless from his fight with Hurkacz: “and what a match to get there!” “
Style opposition
It’s true that we surprised ourselves having a good time in an Arena that was certainly less bubbling than during Hugo Gaston’s matches but also more crowded than during the week. With some inconvenience, like that of not being able to spread out like on the sofa in the press gallery but hey, not enough to make a drama either. In short, the match. A good old fight as we like them, each in his own style – Djoko all in variations, Hubert all flat and strong – and not much to throw in the two hours of film.
Tasty tennis 🤤 pic.twitter.com/j1Qm6RJDWK
– ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) November 6, 2021
Come on, yes, there was this second set where, completely beside his push-ups after winning the first round, the Pole was punished with an express bike wheel, as every time we relaxes 30 seconds against His majesty. “His serve and his raise are incredible,” Hurkacz bowed after the game, “and that puts a lot of pressure on the opponent’s shoulders. You have to fight on all the balls. “
The return of emotional deprivation
We still feel that the machine is a little rusty. Nole was playing his third game since the US Open and still needs minutes to get into the rhythm of his opponents, especially those like the Pole, who have been running for weeks behind a place for the final high mass. year in Turin. It was much better from the second, but we will not forget the air gap at 4-2, a break ahead in the third set, which he could have concluded otherwise than in pain in the tie- break if he had not let himself be caught up by his eternal emotional lack, he who dreamed in Paris of a wave of love like that of Flushing Meadows. The Djoko who wins does not always agree to face a public won to the cause of the opponent, as evidenced by the ironic applause towards the stands on the double fault preceding the break-up of Hurkacz.
These are high intensity matches, with a large crowd supporting both opponents and, in the intensity of the battle, you can get caught up in the game. Of course, I didn’t like it at the time, but little. imported. I don’t think a group came to bore me. There are just people who support their favorite. This is not the first time nor the last time that I will experience this. “
In the final, Novak Djokovic will find Daniil Medvedev, the man who deprived him of a Grand Slam at the US Open but also the one who allowed him to taste the compassion that a tennis stadium offers to those who know how to lose. Which is neither the first quality of the Serbian, nor his intention. “The last time we played Daniil overwhelmed me, I beat him in Australia. 10 days ago, we trained. We did a set together. It was frankly very tense, and funny. I hope the fans can enjoy a thrilling game tomorrow. Chances are, yes.