Djokovic overcomes illness to beat Zverev at ATP Finals

LONDON — Novak Djokovic overcame an illness — and Alexander Zverev — to earn a second straight win at the ATP Finals.

Despite requiring a tissue to blow his nose between points, Djokovic beat Zverev 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday to close in on a spot in the semifinals at the seasonending tournament.

“Unfortunately today hasn’t been great in terms of that (illness),” Djokovic said. “Somehow I managed to gather the strength when I needed it.”

The five-time champion from Serbia saved two break points at 4-4 in the opening set and then broke Zverev in the following game to take the lead.

Zverev won only one more game, ensuring all seven matches at the tournament have ended in two sets.

“I guess winning the first set really counts this year,” Djokovic said. “Then, I guess, you have mentally quite an edge.”

The only result from Wednesday’s late match that can prevent Djokovic from advancing would be a straight-set victory for Marin Cilic over John Isner.

After defeating Cilic in his opening match, Zverev still has a chance to become the first German since 2003 to advance to the semifinals.

The top-ranked Djokovic and third-seeded Zverev engaged in a number of thrilling exchanges early on, but it wasn’t until the ninth game that Zverev earned the first break point of the match.