Djokovic overcomes illness to progress at ATP

LONDON — Novak Djokovic overcame an illness — and Alexander Zverev — to advance to the last four of the ATP Finals.

Using a tissue to blow his nose between points, Djokovic was able to beat Zverev 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday for his second straight victory of the 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."

Djokovic's passage to an eighth semifinal at the seasonending tournament was confirmed when Marin Cilic beat John Isner 6-7 (2), 6-3 6-4 in the late match.

The five-time champion 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.

"Maybe he was a little bit sick or something like that," Zverev said. "But he still played like he felt at his absolute best. That's kind of all that matters."

Zverev's earlier win over Cilic in the round-robin means both those players still have a chance of reaching the semifinals for the first time.

The top-ranked Djokovic and third-seeded Zverev engaged in a number of thrilling early exchanges, but it wasn't until the ninth game that Zverev earned the first break point of the match, aided by a friendly net cord. Djokovic saved it with a service winner but then double-faulted to give the 21-year-old another opportunity.

Zverev played a defensive forehand slice to set up a chance to finish the point with a backhand lob, but his attempt drifted just wide and Djokovic held on for 5-4.

Zverev gave Djokovic a set point with a spate of errors in the next game, and conceded it with a double-fault.

"If I made the break, it goes the other direction a little bit," Zverev said.