The ongoing ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, featured a gripping three-set marathon between Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic and Russian Daniil Medvedev on friday.

Djokovic defeated the Russian with a score of 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(2), prooving his prospects of winning the competition without dropping a set. By defeating Medvedev in the tournament’s third consecutive third-set tie-break, he won the Red Group with a 3-0 record.

Not only does Djokovic want to win the singles title in Turin, but he also wants to match Swiss legend Roger Federer’s record of six victories at the prestigious year-end competition. He had not won any final since 2015.

The Serb won the first set flawlessly, but struggled in the second set, which Medvedev captured on the fourth set point, forcing a decider, which Djokovic won.

“This match against one of the greatest rivals I have today is very important, regardless of the fact that I had qualified already, ” said Djokovic as quoted by ATP after his three-hour, 11-minute match.

“I really wanted to win. Daniil and I have had some battles in the past and I knew coming into the match today that it was going to be his last match of the season and he would not want to finish with a loss. I started off very well. I had chances in the second set, had some breakpoints but he played very well in those decisive points. He was playing really quick. I did not fee; physically well in the third set, and struggled a lot. It is a battle and it is a fight,” he added.

“Being able to find the last drop of energy to come back into the match. At 4-5 I managed to read his serve and anticipate well and got myself in a good position. I started off very well in the tie-break. Tough three matches for him, losing 7-6 in the third in all three matches. It is not easy, but he is an amazing player. I have a lot of respect for him and what a great battle,” concluded Djokovic.

Djokovic will face Taylor Fritz in the semifinal on Saturday

(inputs from ANI)