Novak Djokovic Wins 1,000th Tour-Level Match With Semi-Final Win At Italian Open

The world number one reached 1,000 victories faster than rival Federer, but it took two more matches than Nadal and was also slower than Connors and Lendl.

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in the semi-finals of the Italian Open in Rome to become the fifth man to win 1,000 Tour-level matches.

He joins Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, and Rafael Nadal in breaking the record.

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Organizers later presented the 34-year-old Serb, who won his first ATP Tour match in 2004, with a cake topped with the number 1,000.

“I am blessed and privileged to have that many victories,” Djokovic said.

“Seeing Roger and Rafa celebrate these milestones in the last couple years, I was looking forward to getting to that milestone myself.

“It is a long time since I won my first match on Tour. Hopefully I can keep going and there are many more victories to come.”

Ruud congratulated the 20-time Grand Slam champion on his historic victory as the players shook hands.

The world number one reached 1,000 victories faster than rival Federer, but it took two more matches than Nadal and was also slower than Connors and Lendl.

Djokovic had to fight hard at times against Norwegian Ruud, 23, but came out on top 6-4 6-3.

He will face Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final on Sunday as he seeks his first title of the season.

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Tsitsipas reached the clay-court final for the first time, defeating Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-3.

The 23-year-old Greek overcame Germany’s Zverev’s perfect start to reach his fifth Masters final and fourth on clay.

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