CLINICAL EXHIBITION Djokovic was already qualified for the semi-finals but resisted any urge to throttle down as he dismantled Norrie with a clinical exhibition for the evening crowd. But Ruud was unruffled and duly completed the win with an ace. The set went to a suitably dramatic tiebreak with Rublev enjoying a fortunate net cord at 3-5 down.
The decider was almost a mirror of the previous set as Rublev broke at 3-2, only for Ruud to immediately draw level. That courage was rewarded with the second set as Ruud found a way to return Rublev's fearsome serve and give himself a chance of facing Medvedev. Using his forehand to great effect he became braver and stepped into the court to break straight back. Ruud, who came from a set down to beat Norrie on Wednesday, looked to be in trouble when he was broken early in the second but he began to throw caution to the wind. The Russian duly drew first blood, securing a double break early on and took the opening set comfortably by winning 92% of his first serve points. "I've played against him a couple of times and lost both, but I know a little bit about what I'm going to face and it's going to be a fun challenge." STRAIGHT SHOOTOUT Friday's match was a straight shootout for a last-four place, with world number five Rublev the favourite having won his four previous matches against Ruud. He's proven himself as one of the best over the past two or three years. It's going to be another tough battle, a different kind of player from today, but one of the best in the world. "I'm enjoying the moment," Ruud, who has enjoyed a stupendous year with five ATP titles, said. Making his tournament debut, Ruud bounced back from an opening defeat by Djokovic to overcome Britain's Norrie and then Rublev, and was relishing the prospect of meeting Medvedev. World number one Djokovic, bidding for a record-equalling sixth title at the year-ender, will take on Germany's Alexander Zverev in Saturday's second semi-final.
The 22-year-old Ruud qualifies as runner-up from the Green Group behind Novak Djokovic who later posted his third round-robin win by thumping British alternate Cameron Norrie 6-2 6-1. Norway's Casper Ruud completed the semi-final lineup at the ATP Finals on Friday and will next face another Russian in holder Daniil Medvedev after a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) win over Andrey Rublev.
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