Djokovic sweats but fails to get Serbia into the ATP Cup semifinals

Serbia has qualified for the ATP Cup semifinals, where it will run into Russia, after beating Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday with the triumphs of Novak Djokovic over Denis Shapovalov (4-6, 6-1, 7-6) and of Dusan Lajovic in front of Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-4, 6-2).

The Balkan team went ahead in the tie with the comfortable victory of Lajovic, number 34 in the world, over the young Auger-Aliassime, 19, who conceded his third defeat in four appearances in this ATP Cup.

More close was the duel of numbers one, in which Djokovic had to overcome a tough game that lasted two hours and 40 minutes. Shapovalov came to have 5-4 and serve in his favor in the third set, but the world number two took his talent to achieve a decisive 'break' and confirmed his triumph in the tiebreaker, where he won 7-4. In the already inconsequential point of doubles, Troicki and Cacic put the 3-0 against Polansky and Shamasdin (6-3, 6-2).

In this way, Djokovic will star on Saturday an interesting semifinal duel against Daniil Medvedev, who won him in his last two duels in Cincinnati and Monte Carlo. Before, they will open the tie Lajovic and Karen Khachanov, who like Djokovic and his partner Medvedev remains undefeated in this ATP Cup.