Djokovic sinks Del Potro to reach ATP Tour semis

Defending champion Novak Djokovic booked his place in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Thursday. 

After Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet earlier in the day, Djokovic knew any win against the Argentine fourth seed would guarantee his qualification from Group B with one match still to play. 

And the world number two seized his chance, surviving a tough test lasting nearly two hours to extend his current winning run to 19 matches.  Del Potro can still make the last four as well, but he will have to beat Federer in their match on Saturday. 

Djokovic discovered on Wednesday that his bid to finish the season as world number one had failed after Rafael Nadal wrapped up top spot in the year-ending rankings. 

LONDON:  Leander Paes’ dream of winning ATP year-end finals remained unfulfilled as the veteran Indian crashed out of the prestigious event along with Czech partner Radek Stepanek after losing a must-win Group B match.

Seventh seeds Paes and Stepanek lost their final Group B contest 6-4 6-7 (5) 8-10 to Spanish pair of Mark Lopez and Marcel Granollers in one hour and 49 minutes. Paes had qualified for the season finale for the 14th time, having finished runner-up with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. agencies