Novak Djokovic will end the 12 months as world primary for a record-extending eighth time after beating Holger Rune 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 in his opening match on the ATP Finals.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion wanted only one win or a defeat for younger rival Carlos Alcaraz in an effort to safe prime spot within the ATP rankings for 2023 and made no mistake within the Green Group conflict with spirited debutant Rune.
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Djokovic, on a run of 19 straight wins, has had an age-defying 12 months, profitable three Slams to change into the all-time file 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.
Those are two extra information so as to add to a protracted and rising checklist for Djokovic, who’s looking a seventh Finals title which might take him one forward of retired nice Roger Federer.
It wasn’t clean crusing for the 24 time Grand Slam winner nonetheless as his frustration boiled over early within the third and last set.
At a change of ends Djokovic blew his prime and erupted as he smashed two racquets.
Djokovic received his anger out and regained his composure as he closed out the competition in a match that went just a little over three hours.
“It means a lot. You could see that there were a lot of emotions on the court,” stated Djokovic.
“I could feel it, I was very eager to win the match and get that monkey off my back … obviously a big objective, a big goal has been achieved, everything else now is a bonus.
“I found a way to win today against an opponent who played brilliantly… he had a lot of courage today.
“If I want to keep up with these youngsters I’m going to have to work even harder!”
The win locations Djokovic second in Group A behind Jannik Sinner who comfortably took care of Stefanos Tsitsipas. Sinner got here out scorching and took care of Tsitsipas in straight units, 6-4, 6-4.
The 22-year-old laid down a marker within the first match of the ATP’s season-ending showpiece occasion in entrance of a delighted house crowd in Italy’s northeast.
“I was excited to step on court … I knew it was going to be very tough but I think I handled the situation well. I tried to stay aggressive and I am very happy with the performance,” stated Sinner after the match.
Despite trailing his opponent 5-2 of their head-to-head file, Sinner received into an early lead within the first set.
He broke at 2-2 and by no means regarded again as he confidently noticed out victory in a single hour 25 minutes.
On Tuesday Alcaraz will make his ATP Finals debut in Group B towards the seventh seeded Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz, 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.
The Spaniard hadn’t performed for the reason that Shanghai Masters in early October resulting from decrease again and left foot issues
The last match of the opening spherical contests will see Daniil Medvedev tackle Andrey Rublev on Tuesday morning.
Source: www.news.com.au
