Novak Djokovic was a major question mark to even show up for the Asian swing. He has started it with a trip to the Rakuten Japan Open final that could not have been more routine.
Djokovic has won four consecutive straight-set matches without playing a single tiebreaker after taking care of Nitto ATP Finals hopeful David Goffin 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday afternoon. The world No. 1 saved all four of the break points he faced–one in the first set and three in the second–before prevailing in one hour and 29 minutes.
“I’m very satisfied with the way I’ve been playing the whole week,” Djokovic said. “It’s been a very positive week on the court, off the week as well. Hopefully I’ll be able to crown it tomorrow with a trophy.”
Up next for the top seed is surprise finalist John Millman, who ousted Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6(4) in the semis. Like Djokovic, Millman has also reeled off eight consecutive sets. The 80th-ranked Aussie lost his opening set of the week to Adrian Mannarino but recovered to win that contest and then defeated Lloyd Harris, Taro Daniel, and Opelka in routine fashion.
“He’s a very solid player,” Djokovic said. “I saw today that he had a very good, solid win against Opelka, who was in form and is never easy to play against because he has such a big serve. And Millman is someone that is fighting hard; he’s a real fighter on the court. He never gives up. He has a positive attitude, he runs for every ball and he makes you play. So it’s going to be again a baseline battle and I’m hoping I can serve as well as I did throughout the week because that’s something that is going to be needed.”
Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 2-0 after ending Millman’s 2018 U.S. Open run–which included an upset of Roger Federer–in the quarters. It is a bad matchup for Millman, and for many others, because he is a baseline grinder who does not have the firepower to hit through an opponent of Djokovic’s defensive caliber. The Serb can trade groundstrokes with Millman all day long and should be able to score another relatively easy win.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 5-7 games
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