Novak Djokovic set a major career milestone as he defeated Casper Ruud in the Italian Open semi-finals. The world number one triumphed 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 42 minutes and will now compete for the title against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

It was Djokovic’s third career meeting with Ruud, with the world No. 1 dominating the series 2-0, including a triumph in the Italian Open semi-finals two years ago. And the Serb was even more fired up this time, aiming for his 1000th career victory.

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With the double break, the top seed jumped out to a 4-0 lead in 23 minutes. Ruud began to settle into the match, serving out two love-holds before bringing up his first break point of the match when Djokovic was serving for the set, breaking as the Serb blasted a ball long.

He hung on to force the five-time previous winner to serve it out again, and this time Djokovic won the set 6-4 in 55 minutes. Ruud maintained his better form in the second set, which was neck-and-neck until 3-3 when the 34-year-old set up the set’s first two breakpoints.

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Ruud saved both and was dragged into a game that lasted more than eight minutes, with Djokovic setting up two more breakpoints and converting the fourth. And the world No. 1 didn’t drop a point the rest of the way, winning the final three and breaking Ruud for the final time to win his 1000th match, 6-4 6-3.

During their handshake at the net, the 23-year-old told Djokovic he was “glad to be a part of your history,” as the world No. 1 advanced to his 12th Italian Open final. He is the only man in the Open Era to have more than 1,000 career wins, including Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl, and Novak Djokovic.

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Djokovic will now meet Tsitsipas in the final tomorrow, a rematch of last year’s French Open final. Their eighth meeting will be the first since the Greek squandered a two-set lead in his first Grand Slam final 11 months ago in Paris.

The world No. 5 will be out for vengeance, trying to add the first championship in Rome to his collection of Monte Carlo Masters trophies, which he successfully defended last month. Meanwhile, Djokovic will attempt to win his first trophy of the season.