Novak Djokovic has overwhelmed Stefanos Tsitsipas for the ninth straight time within the gamers’ opening match on the ATP Finals and ended the Greek’s hopes of ending the yr as world No.1.
Tsitsipas knew triumphing in Turin and successful each match within the course of would have been sufficient to see him pip the injured Carlos Alcaraz to high spot within the rankings come the tip of the season.
But the seventh-seeded Djokovic loved a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory on Monday night time for a 3rd success of 2022 over the No.2 seed following wins on the Rome Masters, Astana and Paris Masters.
“If I was to play good tennis this week, win all of my matches, for sure I deserve the (number one) spot. It shows good performance, consistency, but it’s not really occupying too much of my mind,” Tsitsipas mentioned.
“I deeply believe that I can reach that spot one day.
“I’m probably not that a lot in a rush, to be sincere. Of course, it could have been higher if it occurred this week. I’m extra right here for the marathon … I see the larger image, the longer run. I’ve loads of alternatives subsequent yr to play some good tennis.
“If it comes, I’ll be very happy, my country will be very happy, my family will be happy … If it happens, that’s great news. But I shouldn’t be obsessing too much about it.”
Wimbledon champion Djokovic broke Tsitsipas within the opening recreation and held from there to shut out the primary set.
A cross-court backhand passing shot winner that landed on the road helped the Serb transfer forward within the second-set tiebreaker, a lead he did not relinquish.
Tsitsipas gained two of his first three profession matches towards Djokovic however hasn’t overwhelmed the 21-time grand slam winner in additional than three years.
“It was very important to start off well,” Djokovic mentioned.
“I held my serve really well throughout the match. I played a great tiebreak, very solid all the way through.”
Earlier, Andrey Rublev recorded a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) victory over fellow Russian Daniil Medvedev within the different Red Group match.
After his win Rublev wrote “Peace, Peace, Peace, All we need,” on a TV digicam lens.
Having shaken off the frustration of squandering a number of possibilities to take the opening set, Rublev hit again with 25 winners within the subsequent two and held his nerve within the deciding tiebreak to seal the victory on his fifth match level.
“The final tiebreak, the rallies that we had there were crazy,” Rublev mentioned.
“The last rally, we had I don’t know, 30 shots … In the end I was able to win.”
On Sunday, Taylor Fritz beat Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud defeated Feliz Auger-Aliassime, each in straight units, to get the Green Group underway.
With AP and PA.
