Novak Djokovic is through to his third ATP final of the season in Athens following a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Yannick Hanfmann in an hour and 19 minutes. The Serb defeated the German for the third time in as many matches, booking a place in his 144th ATP final.
The veteran served well in the opener and overcame a 3-1 deficit (as in Geneva last year), rattling off five games to emerge at the top and remain on the title course. Novak will face Lorenzo Musetti or Sebastian Korda in the title clash.
The favorite fired nine aces and performed well behind the first and second serve. He got broken once from the only chance offered to his rival and kept the pressure on the other side.
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Djokovic took 38% of the return points and converted them into three breaks from six opportunities. The Serb landed 17 winners and 12 unforced errors. He had the upper hand in service winners and from the baseline to bring the win safely home.
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Novak made a strong start and provided five comfortable holds in the opener. He missed a break chance in the fourth game before seizing the third break point at 3-2 that sent him in front after Yannick's loose volley.
The top seed held for 5-2 and wrapped up the first part of the duel with an ace at 5-3 after 36 minutes. Hanfmann stepped in on the return in the fourth game of the second set and landed a sharp return on a break point to deliver a break and move 3-1 in front.
Djokovic kept his composure and pulled the break back in the next one after the rival's forehand mistake. The 38-year-old locked the result at 3-3 with a service winner and made another push on the return in the next one.
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The legend landed a backhand crosscourt winner for a break chance and drew Yannick's mistake with a return to open a 4-3 gap. The Serb opened a 5-3 gap with an ace in game eight and served for the win at 5-4.
He generated three match points after Hanfmann's backhand error and heldat love with a service winner to emerge at the top and advance into the title clash.
