Novak Djokovic matches Rafael Nadal's record of most semi-final appearances at ATP Masters 1000 events

The Serbian defeated defending champion Holger Rune, sets up a semifinal clash against Andrey Rublev.

Novak Djokovic sought redemption after defeating defending champion Holger Rune 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 in a rematch of the 2022 Paris Masters final. Rune, the 20-year-old, had secured an upset win in Paris last year, earning his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy by defeating Djokovic. With this win the Serbian has equaled Nadal's tally of 76 ATP 1000 semi-final appearances.

The World No. 1 thwarted Rune's mid-game resurgence, securing a spot in the semifinals against Andrey Rublev at the Rolex Paris Masters. Rublev rallied from a set down to defeat Australia's Alex de Minaur 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Rune saved a match point at 4-5 and took the second set, forcing a decider. Novak Djokovic gained an early break in the third game of the final set and denied World No. 7 any opportunity to break back. The US Open 2023 champion is also on the cusp of his 40th ATP Masters title and his seventh Rolex Paris Masters.

Following his three-hour triumph, Djokovic's head-to-head record against Rune is now even at 2-2, with his previous loss occurring at the quarterfinals stage of the Rome Masters. Rune departs from Paris, currently ranked eighth in the race to the Nitto ATP Finals.

The 36-year-old leads Carlos Alcaraz by 850 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin, a promising indicator for ending the year as the top-ranked player. Alcaraz suffered a shocking opening-round defeat to 45th-ranked Roman Safiullin in straight sets, 4-6, 3-6.

In the other semi-final, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov will be competing for a place in the finall. Tsitsipas defeated Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4, reaching the Rolex Paris Masters semifinals, marking his 300th career win and securing a fifth straight appearance at Turin.

Tsitsipas holds a 6-1 advantage in his head-to-head record against Dimitrov as they head into Saturday's semifinal. Dimitrov capitalized on Hubert Hurkacz's slow start, easing past him 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, thus ending the Pole's chances of competing at Turin.