Novak Djokovic edged an epic semi-final at the Paris Masters as he defeated Roger Federer 7-6(6) 5-7 7-6(3).
Federer saved two match points but could not prevent himself slipping to a fourth straight loss to Djokovic, who advances into the final against unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov, who has never played in a Masters final.
Earlier, Khachanov continued his strong recent form by beating Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-1 in just 71 minutes.
Djokovic, who beat Khachanov on the way to winning the Wimbledon title this summer, is seeking a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title .
The match between two players with a combined 34 Grand Slam titles and 59 Masters titles lived up to expectations as they slugged it out in unrelenting intensity.
Brilliant one-handed winners on the run from Federer and acute-angle volleys at the net were matched by tireless retrieving from the baseline and laser-beam forehands to the lines from Djokovic.
Djokovic briefly let his temper get the better of him when he had Federer at 15-40 down in the ninth game of the deciding set. Federer saved both break points, prompting Djokovic to smash his racket into the ground.
Djokovic created pressure throughout but Federer saved every break point - all 12 of them - and secured the only break of the match in clinching the second set.
Arguably the match of the year! 💥
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) November 3, 2018
HIGHLIGHTS TIME - @DjokerNole v @rogerfederer 😍
Watch the @RolexPMasters final tomorrow on @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/5TaqhssPhQ
"We've had epic matches throughout our rivalry but this one definitely ranks as one of the best matches we played. High quality tennis," Djokovic told reporters.
"Next to the match I played against (Rafa) Nadal in the Wimbledon semis, this was definitely the most exciting match I've played this year, and probably the best quality match that I was part of."
Even though he was not broken once, it was still not enough for the 37-year-old Swiss, whose nerve failed him in an anti-climactic final tiebreak in which he served a double fault and made two more careless groundstroke errors.
"For the most part I can be happy, my level was good, but losing is never fun," said Federer.
"It's intense, it's good tennis, we care about winning, we don't like losing. I can tell you that right now."
"Novak is obviously on a roll. You can feel it."
