Novak Djokovic had little to nitpick about his recreation Saturday night after dismissing World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3, 6-2 for a spot within the Nitto ATP Finals championship match.

“Top-of-the-line matches of the 12 months in these circumstances taking part in most likely the most important rival I had this 12 months, Carlos. We had some epic matches. Truly, all three matches we performed this 12 months have been marathon matches that went the space,” Djokovic mentioned. “I believe everybody anticipated, together with most likely each of us, that we have been going to have a protracted night time, an enormous combat, a protracted match.

“I simply managed to I suppose step it up. Once I broke his serve at 4-3 within the first set, performed a extremely flawless match till the top of the match. Performed nice tennis, excessive degree, put quite a lot of stress on his service video games, made him play. I served very well after I wanted to.”

Djokovic wanted three hours and 49 minutes to defeat the 20-year-old within the Cincinnati remaining. However by taking part in what he known as “top-of-the-line matches of the 12 months”, the Serbian confronted a lot much less issue on the Pala Alpitour.

“Could not be coming at a greater time for me, contemplating that I perhaps wasn’t taking part in my finest tennis within the first three group phases, matches of the group phases,” Djokovic mentioned. “However tonight I performed near my very, perfect.”

In response to a query about similarities between Alcaraz and his countryman Rafael Nadal, Djokovic made his stance clear.

“They’re completely different gamers. By way of the perhaps nice event and the sensation of the depth on the court docket that he brings, yeah, there may be some similarity. However he is a very completely different participant from Rafa,” Djokovic mentioned. “He is probably the most full gamers that I [have] ever confronted in my profession. It is fairly spectacular for his age that he is capable of play persistently nicely for now a number of years already, and he is the youngest-ever No. 1 on the earth that we [have] had.

“An excellent profession already, and I believe it is fairly apparent that he will have a superb profession stuffed with success within the years to come back. He is nonetheless very, very younger. However, yeah, he does convey the very best out of me. He makes me put together for the match as finest that I presumably can.”

Djokovic will hope to do the identical on Sunday when he tries to earn revenge towards Jannik Sinner for his loss earlier within the week. The Serbian can break his tie with Roger Federer for many titles in event historical past by profitable his seventh trophy.

“Ended up the 12 months as No. 1 on the earth, reached actually all of the targets that I had, broke many data, made historical past of the game. In fact, I am thrilled with the season,” Djokovic mentioned. “However yet one more match to go. Hopefully I can crown the season with one other win.”