Novak Djokovic Downs Yannick Hanfmann in Athens, Reaches Final
Novak Djokovic advanced to his third ATP final of the season in Athens after a solid 6-3, 6-4 victory over Yannick Hanfmann, finishing the match in one hour and nineteen minutes. This win marks the Serb's third consecutive triumph over the German and secures his spot in his 144th career ATP final.
The experienced player served confidently in the first set, recovering from a 1-3 deficit as he did in Geneva last year. Djokovic then won five consecutive games to claim the set and stayed firmly on track for his 101st ATP title.
“Djokovic the Destroyer 😤 The No.1 seed is through to the #HellenicChampionship final after beating Hanfmann 6-3 6-4 👌”
Djokovic delivered nine aces and stayed consistent behind both first and second serves. He was broken only once from his rival's single chance while maintaining pressure throughout the match. The top seed also dominated in return games, taking 38% of the return points and converting three of six break opportunities. In total, he struck 17 winners against 12 unforced errors, outperforming Hanfmann from both the service line and the baseline.
In the opener, Djokovic started confidently, holding serve comfortably five times. He missed an early break point in the fourth game but converted his third opportunity at 3-2, capitalizing on Hanfmann’s missed volley. The Serb then served out the set with an ace at 5-3 after 36 minutes.
Up next, Djokovic will meet either Lorenzo Musetti or Sebastian Korda in the final showdown in Athens.
Author’s Summary
Djokovic’s strong serve and superior baseline play guided him past Hanfmann in Athens, moving him within reach of his 101st career ATP title.