Djokovic turns Athens crowd into semifinal weapon
A momentary serve break couldn’t derail Novak Djokovic, who harnessed the fervent support of his adopted Greek home to outlast Yannick Hanfmann and reach a final brimming with personal stakes.
In the charged confines of Athens' center court, Novak Djokovic transformed a fleeting lapse into a surge of dominance, dispatching Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship. The 38-year-old Serbian, stepping into his first professional event on Greek soil where he now resides, fed off the stadium’s roar to preserve his perfect 30-0 start to 2025 after claiming the opener. This straight-sets victory marked his 144th tour-level final and snapped a frustrating four-match semifinal losing streak from Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and Shanghai.
Navigating Hanfmann‘s power game
Djokovic started with surgical precision, deploying inside-out forehands to stretch the German qualifier wide and snag an early break for the first set. Hanfmann, fresh off a gritty run as a qualifier, countered with booming serves that tested the indoor hard court’s quick rebounds, but the Serb’s deep returns kept exchanges baseline-bound. In the second set, when he yielded serve for the first time this week, Djokovic immediately regrouped, using a one–two combination of crosscourt backhand and down-the-line forehand to break back and close out the 79-minute match, lifting his head-to-head edge to 3-0.
The tactical adjustments shone through as he varied underspin slices to disrupt Hanfmann’s rhythm on the slick surface, turning potential rallies into forced errors. This wasn’t mere survival; it was a recalibration that highlighted his season’s resilience, now at 38-11 per the ATP Win/Loss Index. As @DjokerNole surges into the Athens final with another straight sets victory under the #HellenicChampionship banner, the momentum builds toward Saturday’s clash.
144th tour-level final @DjokerNole surges into the Athens final with another straight sets victory!#HellenicChampionship pic.twitter.com/JK7jr4aX8z
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 7, 2025
“I think it was the best tennis I’ve played this tournament,” Djokovic said. “It came at the right time. Hanfmann poses a great threat because he serves big, has a big game, so I needed to really stay focused. I was a break down in the second, but I held my composure. I’m very excited for the final.”
Electric atmosphere fuels resolve
The crowd’s unrelenting energy became Djokovic’s ally, echoing through the arena as he walked out for his third match here, their cheers amplifying every point won. He praised the venue’s intimacy, calling it one of the top three indoor arenas he’s experienced, a nod to how the atmosphere neutralized Hanfmann’s aggressive inside-in replies. This synergy blended psychological lift with on-court poise, especially after the mid-match wobble that briefly echoed his recent semifinal heartbreaks.
Post-match, he connected directly with the fans, their support a counter to the season’s toll and a spark for his adopted homeland’s embrace. The former world No. 1 channeled that fire into patient defense, lobbing high over Hanfmann’s advances before pouncing with net-rushing volleys. As the electric pulse coursed through the stadium on November 7, 2025, it underscored a deeper reinvigoration, positioning him to extend his flawless early-year form.
“Thank you for filling out this amazing stadium again,” Djokovic told the crowd. “It’s my third match on centre court, but every time I walk out I’m amazed. I’ve played in some of the most beautiful indoor arenas in the world, but I can definitely say this is one of the top three I’ve ever played in.”
Final awaits with title in sight
Now, Djokovic eyes either Lorenzo Musetti or Sebastian Korda in the championship match, where a win would deliver his 101st tour-level trophy and cap a debut week in Greece with triumph. The indoor hard’s predictability suits his all-court arsenal, allowing flat backhands to pierce defenses while crosscourt patterns open lanes for finishers. This run not only avenges late-season semis but hints at a broader resurgence, blending tactical depth with emotional grounding in a place he now calls home.
With the crowd’s fervor still ringing in his ears, he approaches the final as a resilient closer, ready to seize the milestone amid the tempo of Athens’ lights and shadows. The stakes feel personal, a narrative of homecoming woven into every stroke, promising another chapter in a career defined by unyielding focus.
