Novak Djokovic overcame big-hitting Milos Raonic at the ATP Finals in London, but victory was anything but straightforward.
Novak Djokovic overcame big-hitting Milos Raonic at the ATP Finals in London, but victory was anything but straightforward.
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Djokovic, a five-time ATP Finals champion, had beaten Raonic in all seven of their previous meetings, but break point opportunities for Raonic in both of the world No. 2's opening service games showed the Canadian was in the mood to play.
Djokovic, a five-time ATP Finals champion, had beaten Raonic in all seven of their previous meetings, but break point opportunities for Raonic in both of the world No. 2's opening service games showed the Canadian was in the mood to play.
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Raonic couldn't take them, but this quickly proved the most tightly-fought contest of the tournament so far. Djokovic might have waved amicably to Serbian flagbearers as he made his way onto court, but as his opponent continued to pump huge 140mph serves past him, the world No. 2 began to bristle.
Raonic couldn't take them, but this quickly proved the most tightly-fought contest of the tournament so far. Djokovic might have waved amicably to Serbian flagbearers as he made his way onto court, but as his opponent continued to pump huge 140mph serves past him, the world No. 2 began to bristle.
GLYN KIRK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
In typical fashion, Djokovic remained resilient. While Raonic hit eight aces in the first set, winning 88% of points on his first serve, it was Djokovic who held his nerve in the tie break -- taking the set 7-6 (8-6).
In typical fashion, Djokovic remained resilient. While Raonic hit eight aces in the first set, winning 88% of points on his first serve, it was Djokovic who held his nerve in the tie break -- taking the set 7-6 (8-6).
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
After 64 minutes on court, Raonic had given it everything but it still didn't prove enough. Three break point opportunities had come and gone, and the Djokovic wheel was beginning to turn.
After 64 minutes on court, Raonic had given it everything but it still didn't prove enough. Three break point opportunities had come and gone, and the Djokovic wheel was beginning to turn.
GLYN KIRK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
But how things can change in six months. When Raonic was broken early in the second set, he might previously have crumbled; instead, the 25-year-old Canadian fought back to set point in the second... <br />
But how things can change in six months. When Raonic was broken early in the second set, he might previously have crumbled; instead, the 25-year-old Canadian fought back to set point in the second...
GLYN KIRK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
And yet Djokovic was not to be denied. The Serbian held out, forced another tie-break, and duly won the match [7-6, 7-6]. Will the five-time ATP Finals champion strike once again in 2016? Have your say on<a target="_blank" target="_blank"> CNN Sport. </a>
And yet Djokovic was not to be denied. The Serbian held out, forced another tie-break, and duly won the match [7-6, 7-6]. Will the five-time ATP Finals champion strike once again in 2016? Have your say on CNN Sport.
GLYN KIRK/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
ATP Finals: Novak Djokovic edges Milos Raonic in thrilling contest

Story highlights

Djokovic trailed by a mini-break in both tiebreaks

He improved to 2-0 in group play

Will reclaim No. 1 with the title

Current No. 1 Andy Murray plays again Wednesday

London CNN  — 

Novak Djokovic knew going into the World Tour Finals that if he won two round-robin matches and then the title, he would be guaranteed of reclaiming the No. 1 ranking he lost to Andy Murray last week.

The first part of the equation is done.

Djokovic struggled but still beat Milos Raonic in a 7-6 (6) 7-6 (5) thriller in London on Tuesday to collect that second victory and earn a place in the semifinals, where a meeting with Murray remains a possibility.

The other player to progress from group Ivan Lendl will be either Raonic – defeated by Murray in the Wimbledon final – or Dominic Thiem, the Austrian who downed Gael Monfils 6-3 1-6 6-4 earlier Tuesday at the O2 Arena. They face off Thursday.

Read: Thiem collects first finals win

France’s Monfils, at 0-2, was eliminated when Djokovic edged Raonic.

This wasn’t the almost perfect Djokovic of the first five months of 2016: In rallies, Raonic did much of the dictating and the world No. 2 twice relinquished a break lead in the second set.

But the Serb – like Murray against Marin Cilic on Monday – won the majority of the important points, no doubt aided by the psychological edge he held over Raonic. Raonic entered the clash 0-7 against the four-time defending champion, having won a single set.

“It was a very close match,” Djokovic told reporters. “I think very few points separated us tonight. It really could have gone either way.

“All in all,” he later added, “two tiebreaks against a big server is a great win and great confidence boost.”

Questioned about his temper Sunday after smacking a ball in the direction of his coaches and not far from the crowd in his win against Thiem, Djokovic was mostly composed despite his inconsistent display – although he did punish both feet with his racket when dropping serve at 2-1 in the second set.

The big-serving Canadian paid a hefty price for not capitalizing on three break points in Djokovic’s first two service games.

And there was more misery for the world No. 4 in the opening tiebreak. He led 3-1 but was pegged back to 3-3 after failing to put away a forehand volley. A tactical error followed with Djokovic leading 4-3: Raonic didn’t challenge a Djokovic forehand down the line called in – replays showed the ball to be wide.

Minutes earlier he challenged an almost identical shot – and was proved correct.

Djokovic manufactured a first set point with a delicate backhand lob, only to see Raonic save it with a blistering forehand as Djokovic went passive. But on a second set point, Raonic double faulted long.

andy murray number one ranking intv_00000330.jpg
andy murray number one ranking intv_00000330.jpg
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Related video Andy Murray talks about No.1 ranking

When Djokovic lost his serve in the fourth game of the second, he broke straight back and even Raonic must have thought that was that. Djokovic, though, conceded serve from 30-0 at 4-3 and Raonic – ninth last in return games won among more than 50 players listed on the ATP’s website – broke back again.

“I’m not very pleased to drop my serve twice against Milos, especially the second time,” said Djokovic. “I was 4-3, 30-love, then just four pretty bad unforced errors.

“Credit to him for really hanging in there, putting pressure, being aggressive, especially from the forehand. But I think I should have done better there.”

Djokovic then escaped from 15-30 at 4-5 and Raonic wasted a set point at 5-6, sending a forehand down the line into the net. He led 2-0 in the second tiebreak and by another mini-break at 4-3 but Djokovic authored the shot of the match at 4-5, a stunning half volley.

The 12-time grand slam winner hit an ace on the next point, one of his 11 winners – his unforced error tally was 22 – compared to Raonic’s 42. Raonic’s 27th unforced error officially sealed the contest.

“I could have won it,” Raonic told reporters. “I gave myself some chances there. He played well in most of those chances. It is what it is. Sometimes us tennis players, we struggle to forget. But that’s the number one thing I’ve got to do right now.”

Murray (1-0) returns to action Wednesday in the John McEnroe group against Kei Nishikori (1-0), the Japanese baseliner who upset the Scot at the US Open in September. US Open winner Stan Wawrinka (0-1) battles former US Open champion Cilic (0-1).