Djokovic closes in on home-town Belgrade triumph as Rublev awaits in Serbia Open final

Playing
in
his
home
city
of
Belgrade,
world
number
one
Djokovic
will
be
expected
by
many
to
carry
off
the
trophy
for
a
third
time.

He
scored
a
4-6
6-1
6-2
victory
over
Russian
Karen
Khachanov
in
the
first
of
Saturday’s
semi-finals.

Djokovic
has
made
a
habit
of
losing
opening
sets
this
week,
rebounding
from
early
deficits
to
beat
fellow
Serbians
Laslo
Dere
and
Miomir
Kecmanovic
on
his
way
through
to
the
last
four,
where
it
happened
again.

The
34-year-old
was
able
to
recover
and
improve
his
career
win-loss
record
to
13-2
at
the
clay-court
tournament.

Djokovic,
who
has
been
prevented
from
playing
events
in
Australia
and
the
United
States
this
year
after
refusing
to
be
vaccinated
against
COVID-19,
believes
he
is
gradually
building
up
form
and
match
fitness.

He
said
in
an
on-court
interview:
“I’m
already
feeling
quite
comfortable
on
the
courts.
I
think
the
three
matches
that
went
all
three
sets
gave
me
enough
of
the
match
play.

“I
was
running
enough
in
order
to
be
at
my
optimum
best.
I
don’t
think
the
lack
of
matches
now
plays
a
role.
Maybe
it
was
the
case
three
or
four
days
ago,
not
today.

“But
in
terms
of
the
audience,
of
course
that’s
going
to
be
a
huge
motivation
boost
for
me,
so
I’m
going
to
enjoy
the
crowd’s
support
as
much
as
I
can
and
hopefully
bring
the
title
to
Serbia.”

Rublev,
another
Russian,
beat
Italian
Fabio
Fognini
6-2
6-2
in
the
second
semi-final,
saying
it
had
been
his
best
performance
of
the
week.

The
world
number
eight
is
relishing
playing
Djokovic,
saying:
“It’s
going
to
be
fun.
Tomorrow
I
have
nothing
to
lose,
I
can
go
out
and
enjoy
it.
He
plays
at
home,
so
it
will
be
his
moment.
The
best
I
can
do
is
fight
and
try
to
do
my
best.”