Novak Djokovic will have a shot at a fifth Paris Masters title on Sunday after edging out Grigor Dimitrov in a keenly contested last-four clash.
Djokovic prevailed 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a 98-minute encounter that neatly encapsulated the players' careers.
Talent-wise there was nothing between them, Dimitrov happy to trade fierce baseline blows with the world number one only to fall short when it really mattered.
That was particularly evident in the first-set tie-break. Dimitrov led 5-4 with two serves to come only to fire a forehand drive-volley wide at the end of an epic rally.
An unforced forehand error gifted Djokovic set point which he clinched after Dimitrov went long following another gruelling point that lasted 35 strokes.
Level, @DjokerNole refuses to yield in this 35-stroke rally on set point. #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/d3pYsGyi3p
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 2, 2019
Djokovic's level never dipped and when he broke for a 3-2 lead in the second the crowd sensed the game was up.
Dimitrov continued to fight but he could not find a way back with Djokovic refusing to yield a single break point opportunity.
The Serbian will next take on either Rafael Nadal or Denis Shapovalov.