Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the ATP 250 in Athens by defeating German Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals, played this Friday (7) on the central court of the OAKA Basketball Arena, in Greece. The Serbian, current number 5 in the world, controlled the game in 1 hour and 20 minutes and broke the streak of four eliminations in semifinals that he had faced since April. The victory puts Djokovic in contention for his second consecutive title at the tournament, where he is seeking his 101st professional career title.
Hanfmann, 117th in the ATP rankings, reached the semis as an underdog after coming from qualifying, but was unable to repeat his performance in Shanghai, where he took a set from the Serbian in October. Djokovic, who has lived in Athens since last year, used his experience on indoor courts to neutralize the German’s attacks and convert the decisive break points.
The confrontation highlighted Djokovic’s serving efficiency, who hit 75% of his first serves and won 74% of the points played with them. Hanfmann committed three double faults and saved just one of six break points faced, numbers that reflect the pressure imposed by his opponent.
144th tour-level final 🤯@DjokerNole emerges into the Athens final with another straight sets victory!#HellenicChampionship pic.twitter.com/JK7jr4aX8z
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 7, 2025
Serving performance defines superiority
Djokovic registered nine aces during the match, surpassing Hanfmann in accuracy and variation. The German, in turn, maintained 73% of the points on the first serve, but gave up ground on the second, winning just 46% of them.
Consistency in service allowed the Serb to save energy for long rallies, where he converted three breaks in six opportunities. Hanfmann resisted at the beginning of the second set, but made mistakes at key moments, such as in the fourth game.
This performance reinforces Djokovic’s recent form, unbeaten in sets in the Greek tournament so far. The number of points gained on serve reached 309, compared to the opponent’s 145.
Hanfmann’s path to the semifinals
German Yannick Hanfmann surprised by advancing from the qualifiers to the semi-finals. He defeated Lukáš Klein 6-2, 6-4 in the preliminary round, followed by a victory over Alex Molčan 7-6(2) and 6-3.
In the main draw, Hanfmann beat Ivan Ivanov in straight sets, with scores of 6-4 and 6-2. Against Vit Kopriva, in the round of 16, he needed three sets: 6-2, 5-7 and 7-5, in a balanced duel.
In the quarterfinals, he eliminated Marcos Giron 7-6(3) and 6-4, saving all break points and hitting 78% of his first serves. This campaign brings their record for the year to 45 wins and 26 losses.
History of clashes between tennis players
Djokovic and Hanfmann faced each other for the third time in their career. The first duel took placein Geneva, in 2023, with the Serbian winning 6-3, 6-4 on clay courts.
In October 2025, at the Shanghai Masters 1000, Hanfmann took the first set 6-4, but Djokovic reacted with 7-5 and 6-3. The German showed competitiveness on an indoor hard court, similar to that in Athens.
Head-to-head is now 3-0 for the world number 5, with Djokovic winning the last two in straight sets. These games highlight the evolution of Hanfmann, who went from 150th to 117th in the rankings in 2025.
- Three victories for Djokovic in direct confrontations.
- Two duels in 2025, both in autumn.
- Hanfmann only took one set in total.
Preparation for the ATP Finals in Turin
Djokovic aims for the title in Athens as a warm-up for the Nitto ATP Finals, which start on Sunday (9) in Italy. He is part of the Jimmy Connors Group, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.
The Serbian is looking for his eighth trophy at the Finals, an absolute record, after winning Olympic gold in Paris. The final in Athens takes place on Saturday, allowing recovery before the trip.
Hanfmann, with this semi, adds points to return to the top 100 and guarantee a direct place in the Australian Open in 2026. His focus now turns to challengers to maintain his ascension.
The prize pool for the Greek tournament distributes US$900,000, with US$205,000 going to the champion. Djokovic, seven-time local champion, reaches his 199th semifinal in the elite.
Detailed match statistics
The game saw 63 consecutive points scored by Djokovic in key sequences, including solid service games. He won 44 of 55 points on his opponent’s serve and 12 games in total.
Hanfmann had 18 points on Djokovic’s serve, but failed to convert chances. The Serbian led in winners, with 27 direct points, against 18 from the German.
- Aces: 9 for Djokovic, 0 for Hanfmann.
- Double faults: 0 x 3.
- Break points converted: 3/6 x 1/1.
- First withdrawal percentage: 75% x 73%.
These numbers confirm the Serbian’s tactical dominance on fast courts. The match had zero tiebreaks, unlike the quarterfinals of both.
Djokovic has 37 wins and 11 losses this year, with 29-0 in opening sets won in the tournament. Hanfmann, with 11 triumphs in 13 indoor games in 2025, leaves with valuable experience.
