Thursday marks the climax of the Green Group action at the Nitto ATP Finals, with both semi-final qualification spots still hanging in the balance. Novak Djokovic aims to rebound from his recent loss to Jannik Sinner, understanding that a victory against alternate Hubert Hurkacz could significantly bolster his chances of progressing beyond the round-robin phase and defending his Turin title.
Djokovic's defeat to Sinner in a gripping three-set match left the Serbian proud of his performance but now places him in a pivotal position to secure advancement from the group stage. While not deemed a 'must-win' scenario, Djokovic's victory would strongly position him at 2-1 for the week, especially if it's a commanding win, thereby enhancing his prospects for a semi-final berth.
Despite being an alternate replacing Stefanos Tsitsipas due to a back injury, Hurkacz approaches this matchup with an approach of playing freely. Yet, he still aims for substantial Pepperstone ATP Rankings points and prize money, striving to conclude his season with a notable win against the World No. 1.
Hurkacz's recent performance in the Rolex Paris Masters, reaching the quarter-finals before a three-set loss to Grigor Dimitrov, showcases his competitive spirit. His strong serving game, leading the ATP Tour with an impressive 1,031 aces this season, presents a formidable challenge for Djokovic's exceptional return skills. Similar to Sinner, Hurkacz eyes his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory against Djokovic, setting the stage for an engaging and high-stakes showdown.
(With Agency Inputs)
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