ATP World Tour Finals | Raonic joins Djokovic in last-four stage

ATP World Tour Finals | Raonic joins Djokovic in last-four stage

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World No 2 Novak Djokovic brushed aside David Goffin 6-1, 6-2 to top his group with a clean slate in the ATP Tour Finals in London’s O2 Arena on Thursday. In another Ivan Lendl group match, big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic beat Dominic Thiem to secure the second semi-final spot from the group.

Serbia’s Djokovic stayed on course to reclaim the No 1 ranking that he lost to Briton Andy Murray earlier this month, as he took apart Belgian Goffin, a late replacement for injured Gaël Monfils, in just 69 minutes.

Djokovic opened with two double-faults, but quickly recovered and went on to convert four of his six break points, two in each set, to seal the match, winning 83 per cent of the points on his first serve.

“Everything has been going, as I said, in a positive direction,” the Serbian told a post-match conference. “I've been playing better and better as I proceed in the tournament. I have now a day of rest.

“I'm looking forward, really. It's the last couple matches of the year hopefully. One thing is for sure: I'm going to give it my all on the court and see what happens,” Djokovic added after booking his fifth straight semi-final appearance in the prestigious season-ending tournament.

The four-time defending champion will play the second-place finisher of the John McEnroe Group, which will be decided on Friday (Nov 18) when Swiss world No 3 Stan Wawrinka and Murray face-off in the afternoon, followed by the match between Japanese No 5 Kei Nishikori and No 7 Marin Cilic of Croatia.

World No 4 Raonic ended the campaign of eighth seed and first-time qualifier Thiem 7-6(5), 6-3 in 90 minutes to become the first Canadian in the history to reach the last-four of the ATP World Tour Finals.

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