Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after successful the primary round-robin match towards Denmark’s Holger Rune on the ATP Finals tennis event in Turin on November 12, 2023. (Photograph by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
Novak Djokovic will end the yr as world primary for a record-extending eighth time after beating Holger Rune 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in his opening match on the ATP Finals on Sunday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion wanted only one win or a defeat for younger rival Carlos Alcaraz with a view to safe prime spot within the ATP rankings for 2023 and prevailed in a three-hour Inexperienced Group conflict with spirited debutant Rune.
Djokovic, on a run of 19 straight wins, has had an age-defying yr, successful three Slams to develop into the all-time report winner of main titles.
The 36-year-old got here into the Finals in Turin off the again of his seventh triumph on the Paris Masters, his fortieth victory at a Masters 100 occasion.
These are two extra information so as to add to an extended and rising checklist for Djokovic, who’s looking a seventh Finals title which might take him one forward of retired nice Roger Federer.
“It means loads. You could possibly see that there have been a whole lot of feelings on the courtroom,” stated Djokovic.
“I might really feel it, I used to be very desirous to win the match and get that monkey off my again… Clearly an enormous goal, an enormous objective has been achieved, the whole lot else now could be a bonus.”
Djokovic appeared on target for victory when he took a brutal opening set in decisive trend, prevailing within the tie-break with a shocking cross-court return winner.
And the match appeared to have turned decisively within the third recreation of the second set, when after Rune gained the primary two Djokovic broke again in an excellent 11-point recreation finally gained on the third try.
Rune stored plugging away, nevertheless, and after the pair slugged one another with greater and greater hits Djokovic slipped within the tie-break, lacking a easy volley to attract degree on the second level after which collapsing to concede the set.
However after briefly dropping it for permitting Rune to interrupt again in recreation three of the third set, kicking his rackets in a rage, Djokovic composed himself and noticed out a historic win.
“I discovered a method to win at this time towards an opponent who performed brilliantly… he had a whole lot of braveness at this time,” added Djokovic in Italian.
“If I wish to sustain with these kids I’m going to should work even more durable!”
Sinner off the mark
Residence hope Jannik Sinner acquired off to a near-perfect begin by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight units, 6-4, 6-4, delighting the gang in Italy’s northwest.
Sinner has had the very best season of his profession to this point, successful 4 tournaments and is about to develop into the primary Italian ever to complete a season within the ATP prime 5.
The 22-year-old comfortably handled 2019 champion Tsitsipas in entrance of an enthusiastic crowd, not dropping a service recreation nor going through a break level in the entire match.
“The ambiance was actually, very nice. It’s enormous pleasure for me to play right here in Turin, in Italy,” Sinner instructed reporters.
“Clearly a bit of bit extra strain, however I managed it rather well at this time, so I’m joyful.”
Afterwards Greek Tsitsipas denied he had any bodily issues despite the fact that he appeared approach under his finest, telling reporters “I’m wholesome. I’m able to compete.”
The 25-year-old needed to play down reviews of an elbow damage which curtailed apply forward of his event opener.
“I’m completely high quality and I’m able to play this event. Turin is without doubt one of the most essential occasions of the yr for me,” he stated.
On Monday Alcaraz makes his ATP Finals debut within the Purple Group towards Alexander Zverev, the second seed Djokovic’s closest challenger.
Nevertheless, the Wimbledon champion is in unsure kind after being dumped out of the Paris Masters by Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin following return from an damage lay-off.
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The Spaniard hadn’t performed for the reason that Shanghai Masters in early October as a result of decrease again and left foot issues.