Novak Djokovic produced a masterclass display to defeat home favourite Jannik Sinner on Sunday in the Nitto ATP Finals title match to secure a record breaking seven titles at the season’s end event.
The 36-year-old Serbian defeated the Italian 6-3, 6-3, showing off his best play and losing just two points in his opening seven service of the game to take the lead and then handled a tense finish to the one-hour, forty-three-minute match with his skills.
“It’s one of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt,” Djokovic said at the close of a 55-6 campaign. “To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal. I’m very proud of the performances these past two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and Medvedev at the moment — and the way they have been playing, I had to step it up.
“I had to win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory and that’s what I’ve done. I think I played different tactically than I did in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall it was a phenomenal week.”
Sinner, the home crowd favorite, defeated Djokovic in the group stage, but he decisively overcame Federer in the championship match. Djokovic also achieved this feat against Roger Federer in the 2015 season finale. The World No. 1 has defeated the Swiss to break a tie for the most titles at the Nitto ATP Finals after eight years.
In their Head2Head meetings, Djokovic improved to 4-1 by handing Sinner his first loss of the year in Turin. Being the first Italian to make it to the Nitto ATP Finals championship match, the 22-year-old was unsuccessful in his attempt to become the youngest year-end champion since Stefanos Tsitsipas (21) in 2019.
Earlier in the competition, Djokovic achieved his ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone, extending another priceless record.
Djokovic has won titles in 2008, 2010–11, 2014–15, and 2022–23. He is currently 7-2 in the Nitto ATP Finals title round. In recognition of his most recent victory, he will start Monday’s Pepperstone ATP Rankings 400th week at the top, a record.
© Copyrights Sixsports. All Rights Reserved.