Novak Djokovic is through to his first ATP Finals title match since 2018 — and the eighth overall. Novak defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6, 7-6 on Friday in an hour and 54 minutes to remain undefeated in Turin.

Novak toppled Fritz for the sixth time in as many encounters, recovering from Friday’s marathon against Daniil Medvedev and staying on the title course.

Novak overcame Medvedev 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in a gruelling clash at the Pala Alpitour to top the Red Group.

Fritz fired 15 aces but struggled on his second serve. Still, he stayed in contention in both sets, leading 5-3 in the second but failing to force a decider. Both players scored two breaks of serve, and Novak claimed 11 points more, having the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges.

Novak broke at love in the opener’s fifth game to build the lead before Fritz hit back in the next one to level the score at 3-3.

The servers were too strong in the rest of the set to introduce a tie-break. Novak stayed calm in the closing stages and fired a forehand down the line winner at 6-5 to wrap up the set and gain a boost.

Taylor grabbed an early break in the second set and served well to forge a 5-3 advantage.

Novak held from 30-0 down in the ninth game and broke back in the next one to lock the result at 5-5. The Serb played better in the tie-break and converted the second match point at 7-6 after the American’s loose forehand pushed him into the final.

Written with inputs from Reuters