Novak Djokovic made sure he would clinch the year-end world number one spot for a record seventh time when he secured his place in the Paris Masters final on Saturday with a 3-6 6-0 7-6(5) victory against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.
The top seeded Serbian overcame a wobbly start at the Bercy arena against an opponent who booked the last ticket for the season-ending ATP Finals on Friday before racing through the second and handling his nerves in the third.
Gunning for a sixth title here, Djokovic will face Russia's Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's showdown.
World number two Daniil Medvedev demolished Alexander Zverev 6-2 6-2 in the other semi-final.
The Russian fired off six aces and won nearly 80 per cent of his first-serve points to keep alive his chances of winning back-to-back titles in the French capital. Zverev produced four double faults and lost his cool in the second set, smashing his racquet with the Russian up a break.
Medvedev was near flawless throughout the contest, saving all three break point opportunities.
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Djokovic, who needs to win the Paris final to avoid failing to claim a Masters title in a season for the first time since 2017, dropped serve in the eighth game and Hurkacz followed up on serve to seal the opening set.
It spurred Djokovic into action and the world number one allowed his opponent only 11 points in the second set.
Hurkacz regained his composure in the decider, but Djokovic was a notch above and he broke for 3-1 with a forehand winner at the end of a long rally.
He followed with a service game to love but Hurkacz fought back to break back for 3-4 as he hammered a forehand winner down the line.
Djokovic wasted a match point at 5-4 and the tie went into a decider, which Hurkacz dominated until he buried a routine forehand into the net to put Djokovic 6-5 up with another match point.
The Pole sliced a backhand wide, allowing Djokovic to move within one victory of a record 37th Masters title.
Both he and Rafael Nadal are tied with 36 titles each.
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