Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic Beats Holger Rune To Reach Semi-Finals

Djokovic is chasing a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title

World number one Novak Djokovic held off Holger Rune to reach the semi-finals of the Paris Masters.

Rune beat the Serb in last year’s final to claim his first ATP Masters title.

Despite missing a match point in the second set this time, Djokovic clinched a 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 win to leave Rune’s place at the ATP Finals in doubt.

Djokovic will play Andrey Rublev for a place in his ninth Paris Masters final after the Russian beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Victory for Rune would have secured his spot for this month’s ATP Finals in Turin, which features the world’s top eight players, but the Dane – ranked seventh in the world – is still well placed to make his debut at the end-of-season event.

However, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz faces missing out on the showpiece in Italy after a 6-1 4-6 6-4 defeat by Grigor Dimitrov that means he cannot break into the top eight.

Dimitrov will play Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals on Saturday following the Greek seventh seed’s straight-set victory against Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

Tsitsipas, who secured his place in Turin on Thursday and is yet to drop a set in Paris, won 6-3 6-4 to claim his 300th career singles win.