Novak Djokovic reacts to ‘ridiculous’ decision that could have cost him Paris Masters win | Tennis | Sport

« I knew facing Rune that I’m going to be playing against a player who is in form, » the top seed explained. « I wasn’t feeling my best yesterday, I didn’t know after yesterday’s match how I’m going to feel today. It was definitely better.

« At the beginning so and so but as the match was progressing I felt my energy levels were higher so that’s a positive signal prior to tomorrow’s semi-finals. » Djokovic also compared Rune’s game to his own and recalled last year’s final, when he lost after being a break up in the third set. He continued: « Holger, very similar style of tennis, very similar match that we played against each other last year.

« Obviously I had these thoughts from when I was a break up in the third trying to serve out the match thinking about what was happening last year. But managed to I guess stay calm, composed, find the right serves, right shots because he was going for it. I felt like he raised the level of his shots, the speed of his shots towards the end of the match. He was more aggressive, coming to the net, making points shorter. So it was a great win for me, the win that was decided in one or two points and I’m really glad to go through, to live through another day. »