Novak Djokovic clinches historic seventh ATP Finals championship to cap off exceptional year as world No 1
Novak Djokovic secures historic 7th ATP Finals title by overpowering Jannik Sinner in a dominant 6-3 6-3 victory, capping off a remarkable year for the reigning world No 1
Novak Djokovic clinched a remarkable seventh ATP Finals title on Sunday, triumphing over Jannik Sinner with a score of 6-3, 6-3 in Turin, Italy. This remarkable achievement consolidates Djokovic's exceptional year, complementing his victories at the Australian, French, and US Opens.
The 36-year-old has now embarked on his 400th week as the reigning world rankings leader, extending his own record. "Tonight, facing Sinner in front of his home crowd, and the manner in which I concluded the tournament and the season, is truly remarkable," expressed Djokovic while addressing the press. "I am tremendously proud of my performance."
Sinner, ranked fourth in the world, had previously defeated Djokovic in the tournament. However, in the final on Sunday, the Serbian athlete displayed superior performance.
At 36 years old, Djokovic secured an early break in the match after Sinner hit a wide forehand. He then proceeded to win the first set effortlessly, surrendering only two points on his own serve.
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Djokovic's level remained relentless and impressive in the beginning of the second set. He effortlessly broke Sinner to love in the first game and narrowly missed another break when his passing shot hit the top of the net.
However, Sinner's valiant battle until the end had little impact on the overall outcome of the match.
In the end, Djokovic secured the victory in one hour and 43 minutes with a double fault, surpassing Roger Federer with his seventh triumph in the season-ending tournament. Djokovic's triumph over Sinner was primarily attributed to his exceptional serving skills, delivering 13 aces and achieving a remarkable 91% first-serve point success rate.
In Melbourne, Australia, on January 18, 2023, Rafael Nadal from Spain showcased his impressive backhand skills during his second-round singles match against Mackenzie McDonald from the United States at the 2023 Australian Open. The intense competition took place at Melbourne Park and was captured by photographer Cameron Spencer, as shown in the image above.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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The 24-time grand slam champion can now shift his focus to his ambitious goals for next year. Djokovic, in a conversation with reporters, expressed his determination to win all four slams and an Olympic gold medal. He emphasized that his aspirations and ambitions remain high and will continue to be so in the coming year.
My drive remains strong, as my body continues to serve and listen to me with great loyalty. I am fortunate to be surrounded by a fantastic team of individuals. The presence of motivation, particularly for the prominent tournaments in my sport, continues to fuel my determination to persevere.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Paris Olympics, which will occur after the French Open and Wimbledon, promises a packed summer schedule next year. Despite this, I have no intentions of retiring as long as I can still compete against and defeat the talented younger players in the game, such as Sinner, Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, and Danish sensation Holger Rune.
"I'll continue my journey as long as I can claim victories against them on the grand stage. After all, why halt when you're still conquering the most prestigious championships?" he asserted.
"However, if they begin to overpower me and leave me with my back against the wall, I may contemplate taking a brief hiatus or even retiring from the realm of professional tennis."
At the Australian Open in January, a tournament he has won on 10 previous occasions, Djokovic will be attempting to add to his mens all-time record of 24 grand slam titles
