Djokovic becomes first player through to the semi-finals after thrilling win
Wednesday 16 November 2016 07:33, UK
Annabel Croft said Novak Djokovic's thrilling win over Milos Raonic was "edge of your seat, pulsating tennis and definitely the best match we've seen at the Tour Finals so far."
Djokovic became the first player through to the semi-finals at the ATP World Tour Finals in London after beating Milos Raonic in a classic contest on Tuesday evening.
The four-time defending champion has only lost one of his last 21 matches at the O2 Arena and is guaranteed to finish top of the Ivan Lendl group following his win, which was by no means straightforward.
Djokovic handled everything a fired-up Raonic threw at him to ensure he remains on course to win the Tour Finals for a fifth successive year and record-equalling sixth time in total.
"That was definitely one of the best matches that we've seen so far," Sky Sports Tennis expert Croft said. "It was absolutely electric atmosphere and pulsating tennis. It had you on the edge of your seats.
"This crowd have more than had their money's worth here tonight - it was just brilliant tennis. What you want when you're watching a match is to not quite know who's going to come out on top and both those sets were extraordinary.
"That first set tiebreak was absolutely brilliant. Milos Raonic threw everything at him. He was tactically so brilliant and really went after Novak, not allowing him to get him balanced, going for his shots and serving out of a tree and he made Novak very uncomfortable for so much of the match.
"There were so many twists and turns in that second set as well. It was a match that had everything."
Djokovic had won all seven of his previous encounters with Raonic, dropping only one set in the process, but he had his hands full with the powerful Canadian this time firing more winners, but ultimately coming out second best in a titanic contest.
"One of the greatest skills that Novak brings out to the court is his defence," said Croft. "When you watch the way he moves and the way he gets a racquet onto a ball - he not only does that - he also puts it into a place that is awkward."
The second set tiebreak could have gone either way but Djokovic dug out a remarkable backhand half-volley at 4-5 and then took his first match point when Raonic pulled a backhand wide. A shot Croft found 'extraordinary' to witness and hailed as one of the best all year.
"There were a couple of moments where he came up with a couple of spectacular shots, particularly in that first set tiebreak and then that half volley - that was just an extraordinary shot.
"It has to be one of the best shots I've seen all year, considering the moment and the kind of pressure. It was interesting to see Novak's body language change from letting everything out in the first set, and then going into total calm mode, almost like he went into a shell, but it seemed to work for him.
"There were two different sides to Djokovic that we saw in the match, but it actually worked form him in the end because he won. And there were certain elements of his best tennis in that match and that's the kind of match that would have brought his level right up.
"I'll be surprised if we don't get a Djokovic-Murray final after witnessing that. They look the two best players that we've seen."
Check our game-by-game coverage from all group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London - including Andy Murray v Kei Nishikori - on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis.
