ATP Finals: World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, dispatches Norrie

ATP Finals 2021, Turin, Italy: Novak Djokovic is in his prime ripping every opponent he faces apart. His last Round-Robin match was no different when he faced the Britain Cameron Norrie.

Novak stays perfect with three out of three wins in the Green Group, dismissing Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-1. Already getting wins over Casper Rudd and Andrey Rublev, he needed just 66 minutes to finish this match.

“I tried not to think about tomorrow’s semi-final,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “It is not easy to walk on the court knowing you have already qualified and you know your opponent. I tried to be professional and I tried to give my best and I played really well. It was the first time we have played each other. I took the time away from Cameron. I analyzed his game and knew the game plan and executed it very well.”

The semifinals of the Nitto ATP Finals 2021 are next. The Serbian will be facing Alexander Zverev in the Semifinals who finished Runner up in the Red Group.

“[My tennis] gets better and better every match,” Djokovic added. “I couldn’t be more satisfied with my tennis prior to possibly the two most important matches in the tournament.

“Sascha is playing well. He is obviously one of the best players in the world, arguably the best serve, it is definitely up there. It is going to be tough. The conditions are quick, so that will be one of the keys, how well will I serve and return.”

It was the first head-to-head battle between this two. The five times ATP Finals champion broke early leading 2-0. With 11 winners and serving 92% first-serve points, the Serbian’s racquet breathes fire in the first set.

Replacing Stefanos Tsitsipas, who withdrew due to elbow injury, Norrie had a fine 2021 season. Winning Mifel Open and also lifting his first Masters 1000 crown at BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The second set was even more one-sided with continuous pressure created by the World No. 1 over debutant Cameron Norrie. The power and using the court to the fullest saw the Serbian take the second set as well.

“I think I played a couple of loose points in the first service game and he relaxed a little bit there, but I’ve watched him quite a lot and he was very solid, he gave me nothing really,” said Norrie. “I knew he had a good serve. I didn’t really know it was going to be this good. I think he had a very good serving day. He was very relaxed and even going after the second serve at times.

“For my level and for me to compete with him, I think there were too many free points, too many easy points in there. But I think it comes down a little bit to the fact you’re playing him, and you try to overplay at times. He was too good, very relaxed, he’s playing amazing and the conditions are perfect for him. Too good for me today.”