'Novak Djokovic made it tough for me,' Alexander Zverev recalls

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev met in the decisive round-robin clash at the 2020 ATP Finals in London. Novak scored a 6-3, 7-6 triumph in the encounter of former champions to advance into the semis. Djokovic sealed the deal in an hour and 36 minutes, winning five points more than Zverev and earning one break in the opening set.

The German had 38 winners and 19 unforced errors, but it was not enough for a set. The Serb hit more service winners and built the advantage in the shortest and mid-range exchanges to seal the deal in straight sets. Novak held at love with an ace in the opening game and grabbed an early break at 15 following Alexander's double fault.

A five-time champion placed a drop shot winner to secure the third game, taking 12 of the first 14 points and forging a massive advantage after nine minutes. Zverev painted a backhand winner to get his name on the scoreboard in game four before falling 4-1 behind following another service winner from Djokovic.

Alexander held at 15 in game six with a forehand winner and created two break chances in the next one. Novak denied them with powerful serves and closed the game with two smash winners. Zverev delivered the third comfortable hold in game eight to prolong the action before Djokovic landed a backhand down the line winner at 5-3 to secure the opener in 33 minutes.

The German wrapped up the second set's third game and earned a break chance in the next one, wasting it after netting a backhand. Djokovic held after three deuces and made two break opportunities a few minutes later.

Alexander Zverev lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets at the 2020 ATP Finals.

With no room for errors, Alexander erased them with winners from the field and brought the game home after another forehand winner.

The German rattled off the seventh straight solid service game with an ace at 3-3. He reached 30-30 in the next one but had no chances after Novak's forehand winner. Feeling the ball, Zverev secured the ninth game with a volley winner and forced the Serb to serve for staying in the set.

Alexander reached deuce with a forehand winner and moved two points away from taking the set. Still, Novak won the following two points to bring the game home and extend the action. Zverev held at love with another booming serve in game 11.

A few minutes later, he netted an easy backhand to hand the 12th game to Djokovic and set their first tie break. Novak grabbed two mini-breaks and won it 7-4 to seal the deal and advance into the semi-final. "Novak served incredibly well today.

I had to go far back to return his serves, which made it difficult for me to create the point in the way I wanted. I have to give credit to Novak; he made it tough for me. I started playing on a high level in set number two, and a couple of points decided the winner," Alexander Zverev said.