Novak Djokovic ensured his debut week on Greek soil will end on the biggest stage of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens, where he sealed his place in the final on Friday.
The 38-year-old Serbian overcame a brief stumble midway through the match and fed off an enthusiastic crowd to secure a 6-3, 6-4 semi-final win over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann. Although Djokovic surrendered serve for the first time in the second set this week, he quickly regained control and maintained his unerring record of 30-0 in 2025 after winning the opening set.
144th tour-level final?@DjokerNole reaches the Athens final with another straight set victory!#Hellenic Championship pic.twitter.com/JK7jr4aX8z
— ATP tour (@atptour) November 7, 2025
“Thank you for filling this great stadium again,” Djokovic told the crowd. “It’s my third match on center 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.”
With his victory in 79 minutes, Djokovic improved to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Hanfmann after edging past the German in Shanghai last month. Now in his 144th tour-level final – and third of the season – Djokovic awaits Lorenzo Musetti or Sebastian Korda in Saturday’s final.
Djokovic, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP rankings, also broke a four-match losing streak in the semi-finals after falling short at the penultimate hurdle at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open and Shanghai.
“I think this was the best tennis I played this tournament,” Djokovic added. “It came at the right time. Hanfmann is a big threat because he serves a lot and has a big game, so I really had to stay focused. I was a break in the second, but I stayed calm. I’m really looking forward to the final.”
With a victory in the championship match, Djokovic would lift his 101st tour-level trophy – capping a remarkable first professional visit to Greece, where he now resides. He has a record of 38-11 this season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
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