Weekend tennis acca: Novak Djokovic to make more history

The WTA Finals will set the championship match this weekend in Cancun while the ATP Finals field was finalised by last eight action at the Paris Masters.

Novak Djokovic stands on the brink of yet more history with just two matches standing between him and a seventh Paris Masters title.

Djokovic will be the big favourite in Turin and now looks certain to end the year as the world No 1.

 

Paris Masters: Grigor Dimitrov vs Stefanos Tsitsipas | Pick: Tsistipas

Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic vs Andrey Rublev | Pick: Djokovic

WTA Finals: Jessica Pegula vs Coco Gauff | Pick: Gauff

WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek | Pick: Sabalenka

WTA Midland: Emma Navarro vs Jana Fett | Pick: Navarro

WTA Midland: Alycia Parks vs Anna Kalinskaya | Pick: Parks

 

Paris Masters: Grigor Dimitrov vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas looks set to face Novak Djokovic in another big final to end his season after he also took on the Serb early on in 2023 at the Australian Open.

Tsitsipas has to get beyond a resurgent Dimitrov, though, a player who ended Hubert Hurkacz's push for Turin in the last round.

Dimitrov clearly doesn't have much feeling for what his opponents are trying to achieve, but he has also lost six of his seven matches against Tsitsipas.

The Greek has a big power advantage and should be able to put Dimitrov away if he finds his best level.

 

Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic vs Andrey Rublev

Novak Djokovic face the biggest test since his comeback to the tour when he takes on Andrey Rublev in the last four.

While Djokovic beat Holger Rune in the previous round, Rublev has consistently been better than the Dane this term and the world No 1 will have to grind to get a result.

Rublev has beaten Djokovic just once in five meetings and that victory came on clay.

Djokovic is always tough to stop with a milestone in his crosshairs and he should come through this test.

 

WTA Finals: Jessica Pegula vs Coco Gauff

Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff have made sure that an American woman will contest the WTA Finals championship match.

The doubles partners know each other well and this should be a tight contest to say the least.

Pegula holds a 2-1 lead in the head-to-head between the players but Gauff has enjoyed a better run of late.

Gauff can close the gap on the top two women in the game who face each other in the second semi-final.

 

WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek

Aryna Sabalenka closed the gap on Iga Swiatek in their head-to-head when she triumphed in their most recent clash in Madrid.

However, Swiatek still holds the overall lead and has found a way to beat the powerful world No 1 on five of the eight occasions they have clashed.

Sabalenka lost in the group stages, which has seen her cross Swiatek's path in the last four but she could just have an edge in the contest.

Sabalenka holds the top ranking, which Swiatek wants back, but she should have the tools to hold off the star from Poland.

 

WTA Midland: Emma Navarro vs Jana Fett

Emma Navarro has kept hopes of an All-American final in Midland to end a season when US women have shot to prominence.

Navarro faces Jana Fett in Michigan as she chases her first-ever WTA Tour title to cap a fine campaign.

Fett's semi-final walkover might end up working against her, with Navarro keeping up a high level of play in her quarter-final win.

Over 150 places separate Navarro and Fett on the rankings, and the American should have this one won.

 

WTA Midland: Alycia Parks vs Anna Kalinskaya

Alycia Parks will be out to secure a second title of the season but has a tough match against Anna Kalinskaya to get through.

Kalinskaya blew past the American with ease when they met at Indian Wells earlier this season.

Parks will need to improve by some measure to have any chance of making the Midland final but has looked good all week.

Parks is yet to drop a set this week and should be able to put that previous result out of her mind to get this done.