Djokovic slithers past resilient Rublev for Paris finals repeat

Novak Djokovic closed in on a seventh title at the Paris Masters as he escaped an upset scenario engineered by Andrey Rublev on Saturday.

Djokovic said he struggled for breath in the 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 victory into the Sunday final which lasted three hours.

“he was smothering me like the snake to the frog,” the world No. 1 said as he lined up a title match against Grigor Dimitrov.

The Bulgarian will be part of the over-30 final after stopping Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3).

Rublev, the fifth seed, was competing again less than 16 hours after winning a controversial late-nighter at 1 a.m. and remaining unhappy about tournament scheduling.

Djokovic, who took a massive 12-minute-plus break from the court prior to the start of the third set to change clothes and then requested a visit from the trainer for his back, has now own all nine semi-finals he has played here 

The Serb advanced as Rublev struck a double-fault on a Djokovic match point 

Djokovic managed 36 winners but was out-hit by his opponent with 49; the winner has been taken to three sets in his last three matches here.

“This was an extremely high level match,” the winner said. “e has great quality but today he played off the charts.

“I have never faced him playing this well.”

Djokovic again referred to his stomach problems this week, saying he “struggled” to go through. “I managed to find the strength and energy to win on adrenaline.

“Winning the second set tiebreaker was crucial. In the third set I was there in all of his service games, always with a chance.

“A double-fault at the end was  an unfortunate ending for him,But I deserved this victory for the effort and the fight I gave.”

Main photo:-Novak Djokovic wins semi-final by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd