Unseeded Argentine David Nalbandian inflicted a shock 6-1, 6-2 defeat on world number two Rafael Nadal in the Madrid Masters on Friday to earn a semi-final showdown with young Serb Novak Djokovic.
The world number one was virtually guaranteed a semi-final berth before walking on court at the O2 Arena, but made doubly sure by cruising past Tomas Berdych in little more than an hour.
Novak Djokovic looked to have regained his confidence and form just in time for a concerted Wimbledon assault as he carved out an emphatic win over Gael Monfils in the Aegon International grasscourt final at Eastbourne on Saturday.
World number one Novak Djokovic rediscovered a ruthless streak when it mattered most to stay on course for a career slam with a nail-biting 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 win over Andy Murray to reach the French Open final on Saturday.
Serena Williams stayed on course for a fourth Sony Ericsson Open title with a ruthless 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Djokovic missed the Australian Open after being deported for not having been vaccinated against COVID-19 and will not be allowed to compete at the US Open
Novak Djokovic will swiftly overcome the disappointment of failing to win a calendar Grand Slam and a record-breaking 21st major at the U.S. Open, former Yugoslavia Davis Cup coach Radmilo Armenulic said.
Spain's Tommy Robredo shocked world number one Novak Djokovic 7-6(6), 7-5 on Thursday to move into the quarter-finals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
There is no one more unbeatable in men's tennis than Novak Djokovic when the Serb is at his best, former world number four American Todd Martin said. Reigning world number one Djokovic has already established himself as one of the best ever to play the game and the Serb's Grand Slam haul of 17 is just three behind the 20 that Roger Federer has amassed. The Swiss player will be 39 in August.
Novak Djokovic will meet Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open. The Serb beat defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 in the semi-final on Friday.
Novak Djokovic will be favourite to reach his 27th Grand Slam final when he faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open semis on Friday but what had been a smooth path through the draw has suddenly got a little rocky.
Novak Djokovic's frustration with the controversial blue clay at the Madrid Masters reached new heights after the world number one was beaten 7-6, 6-3 by fellow-Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Britain's Andy Murray enjoyed a routine win over Argentina's Juan Monaco to ease into the third round of the tennis tournament at the Rio Games on Tuesday, while Spain's world number nine David Ferrer was knocked out.
Rafael Nadal blasted past Serb Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 to improve his record to 2-1 at the Masters Cup.
Djokovic will be nowhere near the centre court after losing his bid to overturn a second visa cancellation.
A very different Australian Open comes to a familiar end on Sunday as Novak Djokovic looks to thwart another challenge to his Melbourne Park dynasty from the latest Grand Slam aspirant in Daniil Medvedev.
In the Dubai Open semis, Federer plays Tommy Haas, while Youzhny takes on Robin Soderling.
Factbox on Novak Djokovic's five Wimbledon titles
The 28-year-old Serb's initial slow accumulation of major silverware after his breakthrough at the 2008 Australian Open has accelerated to such an extent that talk of him surpassing the likes of Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal and even Roger Federer is no longer fanciful.
Novak Djokovic won a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title by avenging his U.S Open final defeat against Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in Sunday's showpiece match.
Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in straight sets to win the men's singles title at the Australian Open on Sunday. The Serb, seeded third, needed 159 minutes to overcome his fifth-seeded opponent 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in a one-sided contest at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic's father blamed the cancellation of the tour on Dimitrov. There is nothing to suggest that Dimitrov spread the virus to others.
Three-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic roared his way into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(2) defeat of unpredictable Latvian Ernests Gulbis on Centre Court.
Novak Djokovic recovered his poise to win the Rome Masters title and Wilander says Djokovic will use the pain of his US debacle to inflict maximum damage on the Parisian clay.
Alcaraz missed last year's tournament with a hamstring injury
A deflated Novak Djokovic blamed a bad day at the office for his stunning second-round elimination by Uzbek wildcard Denis Istomin which condemned the Serb to his earliest grand slam exit in nearly a decade.
Another day, another milestone reached for Novak Djokovic as he racked up Grand Slam victory number 350.
Rafael Nadal said he feels sorry for Novak Djokovic after the world number one was denied entry into Australia but added that the Serb knew for months he could potentially face problems if he arrived without being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Novak Djokovic celebrated his return to the summit of world tennis with a stroll into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters as outclassed Damir Dzumhur had to retire with injury in the second set of their third round clash.
World number one Novak Djokovic saved three match points to beat France's Gael Monfils 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-1 on Friday as he set up a final showdown at the Dubai Open with Greek second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic is yet to lose this year and the Australian Open champion extended his unbeaten run in 2020 to 17 matches with what was also his 17th win over Monfils.
Sixth seed Andy Murray may feel the most aggrieved of the top contenders in the men's draw.
Djokovic remained unflustered despite dropping the opening set and suffering several tumbles on the greasy surface.
The former world number one said he had an honest conversation with Djokovic before taking up the coaching role between the end of 2013 and 2016.
Spain's David Ferrer stunned World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to reach the ATP World Tour semi-finals on Wednesday, outplaying the Serb 6-3, 6-1 at the O2 Arena.
Novak Djokovic's loss in the US Open final on Sunday denied him a calendar-year Grand Slam but the Serbian world number one said he was just happy his chase for perfection was finally over.
The 30-year-old Serb had been scheduled to start the new season at an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi on Friday when an elbow injury flared up.
Novak Djokovic threw his racket on the ground, drawing a warning from the chair umpire.
Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 16th time but it proved a hard day's work at his Centre Court office.
Germany's Tommy Haas recorded the upset of the tournament when he stunned two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Sony Open at Miami on Tuesday.
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