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Novak Djokovic is a player to beat in Turin this year! The Serb delivered his second victory of the competition, beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-1 in 67 minutes to top the Red Group. It was Novak's second win over Andrey from three matches, dominating his service games and breaking the rival three times to sail over the finish line.
Novak lost seven points in his games and kept the pressure on the other side. He had the upper hand in the shortest range up to four strokes and overpowered Andrey in the more advanced rallies to secure his 43rd Atp Finals victory.
Djokovic was rock-solid behind the initial shot in the opening set, winning all 17 points behind the first serve and allowing his rival to take only three points. Thus, Rublev felt the pressure in his games and could not endure it.
The Russian struggled to find the first serve and got broken from the only chance offered to the Serb to fall behind.
Novak Djokovic defeated Andrey Rublev in straight sets in Turin.
Novak landed an ace down the T line to bring the opening game home at 15.
Andrey responded with a service winner in game two for 1-1, and Novak produced more powerful serves in the next one. Rublev blasted an ace in the fourth game for 2-2, and Djokovic followed that with more quick points in the next one.
Andrey landed a forehand down the line winner in game six to lock the result at 3-3 after lightning fast 16 minutes. Novak fired another ace in game seven for 4-3 and reached deuce on the return in the next one after Andrey's backhand mistake.
The Russian stayed calm and held with an ace to level the score at 4-4. Never losing pace in his games, The Serb painted another ace in game nine for 5-4, with his rival serving to stay in the set. Rublev squandered a game point in game ten and sent a backhand wide to experience the first break point.
It was a set point for Novak, and he seized it with a backhand down the line return winner for 6-4 in 35 minutes. Andrey lost ground in those moments and experienced an early break in the second set to move further away from the positive result.
The Serb opened a 3-0 gap with an ace and delivered another fine hold for 4-1. Rublev experienced another break in game six to fall 5-1 behind, and Djokovic emerged at the top with an excellent hold a few minutes later to remain perfect in Turin this week.