ATP Finals: Sinner Stuns Djokovic for his first win over the World No.1, Close in on the Semis

Italian Jannik Sinner overcame Novak Djokovic in a tough battle at the ATP Finals on Tuesday night to record his first victory over the Serbian and near a semi-final spot after a three-hour, nine-minute match in Turin.

The 22-year-old defeated Djokovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) to improve to 2-0 this week in Turin and put him in command of the Green Group, though his qualification for the knockout semi-final stage is not yet confirmed.

In the pair’s first hard-court meeting, Sinner used his brilliant ball-striking to end Djokovic’s 19-match winning streak, which dated back to the Serb’s Cincinnati title run.

“It’s part of the process. I feel that I’m a little bit more confident in certain moments in a match,” Sinner said of his performance in the clutch moments. “I think I was really brave and intelligent in important moments, especially the third set. I felt like we were both serving really well so there were not so many exchanges, but when the exchanges were played we both played really wel

“That was a really high-level match”.

The Italian’s career-best season now includes 59 match wins — the most by an Italian in the Open Era — and a 10-5 record against the Top 10. Sinner also improved to 15-1 indoors for 2023 by earning his second victory against a reigning World No. 1; he also beat then-No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Miami semis earlier this season.

“I think the main difference is that in the important points, he was going for it, he was more courageous,” Djokovic said of his opponent. “He deserved to win because in important moments I wasn’t aggressive enough, I wasn’t decisive enough. I gave him the opportunity to take the control over the points. At 5-all in third set, 15/30, second serve, I was in the rally and should have stepped in and didn’t, and he did.

“You have to just congratulate him. He just played a fantastic match. That’s what I told him at the net. I think in the most important moments, he played his best game and he absolutely deserved to win.

“It means a lot to me,” Sinner said of beating Djokovic for the first time. “When you win against the World No. 1, who has won 24 Grand Slams, it’s obviously in the top [of my career results]… I felt like it was a really tactical match and I managed to win, so I’m very happy

Despite losing to his opponent, who he repeatedly praised for his play, Djokovic is still in the running to make it to the semifinals in Turi

Hubert Hurkacz will be his final opponent of the round robin on Thursday. The Pole will replace Stefanos Tsitsipas (back injury) in the match. Sinner aims to finish 3-0 in the group and will face Holger Rune.