Djokovic uses Federer's record as motivation

* Djokovic – Rublev: 8pm on November 16, Hanoi time.

"Of course I know history is calling," Djokovic replied when asked about being just one title short of Roger Federer's ATP Finals championship record.

The Serbian tennis player said that creating great milestones has always been his goal at the end of his career. Djokovic previously broke the record for the number of consecutive weeks holding the world number one position, as well as passing the 20 Grand Slam milestone of the Swiss senior.

"Taking the record doesn't affect the way I approach the game because I have a lot of experience," added Djokovic. "I know myself well, know what to do to cope with the challenge. I feel happy and honored to stand in front of the important milestones of tennis."

Djokovic will reach the semi-finals if he defeats Andrey Rublev today. He previously beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-0 on the opening day. Rublev unexpectedly defeated Daniil Medvedev in three sets, with the third set tie-break ending 9-7.

Rublev belongs to the few juniors who do not lose against Djokovic. They met twice and each won one, of which Rublev once won 6-0 in the third set of the Belgrade Open final this season. At last year's ATP Finals group stage, Djokovic and Rublev also met, with a two-set victory by the Serbian.

Rublev said he has learned to maintain a competitive mentality. He said: "It took me many years. It used to be my fatal weakness. Everyone has a different weakness. Besides the mentality, I have improved the left shot."

Djokovic is a master at finding the weak points of his opponent. The 35-year-old made good use of Tsitsipas' habit of slow starts to win the opening day of the Red group. He has won 14 of his last 15 matches, reached the finals of all three of his recent entries and won twice.

Seven hours after the Djokovic and Rublev match, the two losers of the opening day, Tsitsipas and Medvedev, faced off to keep their hopes up. The loser will follow in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal leaving the ATP Finals after the group stage.

Medvedev won seven of his 10 fights against Tsitsipas. But the Greek tennis player defeated the senior after three sets in the last time they faced off in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters. Thirty-six nets in that match helped Tsitsipas finish the ball quickly and avoid Medvedev dragging into the series of durable balls behind the baseline.

The first player to reach the semi-finals of the ATP Finals was Casper Ruud, after two consecutive wins in the Blue group. The remaining tickets in this table will be decided after the head-to-head confrontation between Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.