Novak Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP Finals on Thursday night after Jannik Sinner beat Holger Rune, keeping alive the Serb's bid for a record-extending seventh title at the season-ending tournament.
Sinner was already assured of a spot in the last four following Djokovic's earlier victory over reserve Hubert Hurkacz – the Pole was drafted in to replace the injured Stefanos Tsitsipas – and the world No 4 topped the group after a battling win at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.
"It was hard, I'd never beaten him before... the crowd helped me a lot," said Sinner, who became the first-ever Italian to progress from the ATP Finals group stage. "I'm pleased with how I won the game."
With Sinner already assured of a semi-final berth, the Italian could have lost against Rune knowing that a defeat would eliminate Djokovic from the tournament.
But Sinner fought hard to secure first place with his third win in three group matches, allowing world No 1 Djokovic to follow him into the next round.
In the semi-finals, the reigning Toronto Masters champion will play whoever finishes second in the Red Group, while Djokovic will face the group winner.
Carlos Alcaraz and current Red Group leader Daniil Medvedev, who is also already in the semis, face off on Friday afternoon before Alexander Zverev takes on eliminated Andrey Rublev.
Sinner initially looked like making short work of Rune despite the Dane only having to play three games in his previous match with Tsitsipas on Tuesday before the Greek dropped out of the tournament injured.
The 22-year-old Italian came through a three-hour thriller against Djokovic but looked ready to take on the world when he broke Rune twice in the first three games.
Fatigue and a back niggle allowed Rune back into the match, but Sinner held firm to bask in the cheers of fans who chanted his name to the rafters.
"My back is OK, I felt a small pain but it's gone now," Sinner said. "It might have just been the tension of the match, I didn't even call over my physio. I'm not worried."
Sinner's win saved Djokovic from a disappointing end to what has been an age-defying 2023 from the 36-year-old, who won three Grand Slams and took his 1000 Masters titles to 40, another record.
Djokovic took control at the end of the first set of his match with Poland's Hurkacz when he rattled off nine points in a row to take a 6-0 lead in the tie-break and then seal the set.
However, he threw away his serve to love in game five of the second set and two games later looked on in disbelief as Hurkacz rammed home four consecutive aces from 15-40 down to go to within one game of drawing level.
Hurkacz easily saw out the set, drawing warm applause from the home crowd, and with the third set almost irrelevant the Pole collapsed against a visibly annoyed Djokovic, whose hopes of a historic win are still alive.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
