Novak Djokovic skips press conference due to feeling unwell ahead of Cincinnati final

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic admitted he didn't know how he managed to beat Roberto Bautista Agut after a thriller Cincinnati Masters semifinal.

Djokovic, seeded at No. 1, edged out world No. 12 Bautista Agut 4-6 6-4 7-6 (0) to set up a Cincinnati final against Milos Raonic, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"It was a] very strange match, I must say. I don't know how I won it, to be honest. He was the better player," Djokovic said on court after his triumph, per the ATP website. "I just didn't feel good on the court at all, in any aspect of my game and of the body. But somehow, I managed to pull this one through."

Bautista Agut fell apart in the third set tie-break after failing to serve out for the match in the 12th game.

"It's a balance between patience and [playing with] controlled aggession," Djokovic said. "When you have a chance you have to go through it. You have to not only move him around left and right, but forward and backwards, mix it up with pace, spin and depth. You just have to put a lot of variation in the game. He's a very consistent player."

Djokovic then underlined he won't take Raonic for granted in the final.

"He has a] huge serve," Djokovic said. "He's playing well, he's confident and let's hope for a good final."

Djokovic skipped press conference 

Djokovic spoke on the court following his win but didn't have a press conference.

"Novak Djokovic was not feeling well on court today and it worsened after the match. The tournament medical team has advised him not to do press today," the tournament announced.

Djokovic is now 22-0 for the season and he will aiming to remain perfect when he meets Raonic. 

When asked earlier this week about the possibility of going undefeated in 2020, Djokovic said:  "Look, anything is possible. I have experienced some things in my career, in my life, that I have to say I believed that they can happen, but, you know, they were not seeming so possible but yet they happened.

"I don't want to count that out, I mean, especially because of the fact that we are -- we don't know how the post-U.S. tour season is going to look like, whether we are going to play, whether there is going to be another lockdown in Europe or not. We are hoping not. 

"But, yeah, I mean, it's a long way. If the calendar is as it is, you know, look, it's not -- right now it's not something I'm thinking about. It's not my goal, actually, to go unbeaten, but I wouldn't complain if I do (smiling)."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3hzAZbz