Novak Djokovic has clinched a berth in the highly anticipated 2023 Paris Masters final, after an exhilarating encounter with Andrey Rublev in the semifinals. After the match, Djokovic said that he felt Rublev’s performance was out of the world.
In a thrilling match that lasted over 3 hours, Djokovic rallied past Rublev with a score of 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 where he found himself facing the best version of Rublev he had ever encountered. Djokovic also took pride in his ability to overcome several stomach issues and illness during the week while still delivering exceptional performances.
Djokovic described the intensity of the match against his Russian opponent, saying, “Rublev was suffocating me like a snake suffocates a frog for most of the match. He was playing at an extremely high level. I knew he possessed a great quality, but today he played off the charts. I don’t think I’ve ever faced Rublev this good.”
Novak Djokovic says Andrey Rublev suffocated him on the court:
“Rublev was suffocating me like a snake suffocates a frog for most of the match. He was playing at an extremely high level. I knew he possessed a great quality, but today he played off the charts. I don’t think I’ve… pic.twitter.com/NNyg819El7
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 4, 2023
Even in the face of his health obstacles, Djokovic’s unwavering determination remained evident. He revealed, “I’ve been going through quite a difficult stomach virus that really made me feel terrible the past three days, but somehow managing to find strength, find energy under the adrenaline rush of playing a match. Not giving up, fighting, and believing that I can come back…”
In the final, the 37-year-old Djokovic will face off against the 32-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, setting the stage for an electrifying clash between two familiar rivals who have played each other many times before.
Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov renew their rivalry at the 2023 Paris Masters finals
Grigor Dimitrov has had a solid 2023 performance, boasting a 41-20 record. The Bulgarian is eager to break his nearly six-year drought for an ATP Tour title, his last tournament win was at the elite Nitto ATP Finals in 2017. Djokovic, on the other hand, enters the finals on a 17-match winning streak and boasts an 11-1 head-to-head record against Dimitrov.
The Serbian is pursuing his 7th Paris title, a 40th Masters, and his 6th tour-level victory in 2023. Dimitrov’s lone victory over Djokovic came in the 2013 ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid. Djokovic’s consistency and resilience have often seen him emerge victorious over Dimitrov in events like the Rome Masters, the Australian Open, and the Paris Masters. In Paris, Djokovic and Dimitrov have crossed paths twice already.
Setting Up Sunday: ATP Rolex Paris Masters features a surprise guest and a familiar face
Grigor Dimitrov will aim to stop Novak Djokovic from winning his 97th career singles title—and sixth of 2023—in Sunday’s final.
PREVIEW ⤵️https://t.co/A5a6Q65gRO
— TENNIS (@Tennis) November 4, 2023
In 2019, Djokovic defeated Dimitrov with a score of 7-6, 6-4 at the semifinals stage, and in 2016 Djokovic emerged triumphant 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16. Dimitrov emphasized his proactive approach, stating, “I want to win or lose on my terms… I can control my attitude, and I don’t want to feel sorry for myself for the past years. I don’t want to feel like I have missed opportunities.”
In a rivalry that has spanned more than a decade, Dimitrov’s last win over Djokovic came exactly 10 years ago. However, Dimitrov was not lucky this time as Nole defeated the Bulgarian in straight sets at Paris Masters securing his 40th Masters 1000 title.