2022 ATP Finals, Day 7: Ram reaches title match, Fritz falls to Djokovic

On semifinal Saturday at the ATP Finals, Rajeev Ram scored a big win while Taylor Fritz was edged by Novak Djokovic in two tight sets.

Ram and doubles partner Joe Salisbury returned to the Turin final for the second straigh year with a 7-6(7), 6-4 win against world No. 1 doubles team of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski. Fritz, up against former No. 1 Novak Djokovic, put forth a strong effort but was ultimately turned back, 7-6(5), 7-6(6).

Ram returns to final

One year after final heartbreak in Turin, Ram and Salisbury earned another opportunity to play for the title at the season finale.

The second seeds needed seven set points to clinch the opening set against Koolhof and Skupski, seeing one go begging on return at 5-4 and another five saved in the tiebreak, which they led 6-2 before winning it 9-7.

One break was enough to decide set two, with Ram and Salisbury saving the only break point against them. Ram was particularly effective on the return in the semifinal, firing several backhand winners at key moments.

”It is something I have worked really hard on,” Ram said of his return game. “It is huge to keep in games and matches and I think it is my most improved area, so I am happy it paid off today.”

“I absolutely feel like I belong,” the American said in a post-match press conference, his semifinal showing cementing his position at a career-high ranking of No. 9.

“I think that I've proved that I belong in the Top 10 and I belong here [at the ATP Finals]. I just need to keep working hard.

“Fortunately for me, I think there's a lot of positives to take out of this year, where I finished [in the rankings]. I finished where I did and I missed pretty much the whole clay-court season, didn't have any training going into the beginning of the hard-court season. I was dealing with injuries and I still was able to produce a really solid year. I'm just excited to get back to work and keep improving.

"Next year, [I will] look to cement my spot even more.”