Novak Djokovic breezed into the semi-finals of the 2022 ATP Finals with ease following a straight sets win over Andrey Rublev in the Red Group.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner needed a two-set win to guarantee his place in the final four, having got the better of Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening match.
Rublev came into the contest aiming to build on a shock win over Daniil Medvedev, but a merciless Djokovic prevailed 6-4 6-1 in just one hour and seven minutes in Turin.
Djokovic certainly had to be patient in the first set, with Rublev giving very little away on serve, hitting eight aces and producing just one double fault.
However, anything the Russian could do, Djokovic could do better, as the Serbian lost just three points on serve and broke in the 10th game to edge ahead - coming up with eight aces of his own.
The second set was a much more comfortable affair for Djokovic, who won the first three games and also broke for a 5-1 lead to put himself one game away from a spot in the final four.
One final forehand winner from the 35-year-old sealed his place in the last four, where he will be joined by Casper Ruud, but Rafael Nadal will not be present in the semi-finals after losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday, which guaranteed Carlos Alcaraz's standing as year-end number one.
The Red Group will continue later on Wednesday evening as Tsitsipas and Medvedev battle to keep their hopes of a semi-final place alive.
Ben Knapton
