TURIN, Italy — Novak Djokovic ended the yr simply as he began it — by setting information.
The top-ranked Djokovic received a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title on Sunday with a straight-set victory over dwelling favourite Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic took 1 hour, 43 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3 because the Serbian continues to succeed in new heights on the age of 36.
He began 2023 with a record-extending tenth Australian Open title and went on to say his twenty third Grand Slam singles trophy on the French Open, breaking Rafael Nadal’s mark. Djokovic, who misplaced the Wimbledon ultimate to Carlos Alcaraz, additionally received the U.S. Open.
“One of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt,” Djokovic stated. “To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal.”
Djokovic entered Sunday’s ultimate tied with Roger Federer on six titles on the season-ending match for the yr’s high eight gamers.
And he stretched out his arms and beamed broadly after clinching his seventh when Sinner double-faulted.
The victory had echoes of the medical approach Djokovic dispatched second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in Saturday’s semifinal encounter.
“I’m very proud of the performances these last two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and (Daniil) Medvedev at the moment, and the way they have been playing I had to step it up,” Djokovic stated.
“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 tactically played different today than I have in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall it was a phenomenal week.”
It was his fourth win over Sinner, who had recorded a first-ever victory towards Djokovic within the group stage in Turin and was the primary Italian to succeed in the ultimate.
But Djokovic was in imperious kind on Sunday and received 14 straight factors from the top of the primary set to the third sport of the second to depart him firmly in management and subdue the Turin crowd.
Djokovic had already secured the year-end No. 1 rating for a record-extending eighth time by successful his opening match on the ATP Finals.
After this match, Djokovic will change into the primary participant to carry the No. 1 rating for 400 weeks, with Roger Federer at 310 the one different man to eclipse the 300-week mark.
It was additionally solely the second time within the final 15 years {that a} participant has made the finals of all 4 Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP Finals. The solely earlier event was when Djokovic did it in 2015.
Sinner got here into the ultimate having received all of his matches in Turin and backed by a fervent dwelling crowd, who had goals of him turning into the primary Italian to win the match in its 54-year historical past.
But the 22-year-old Sinner might supply little in response to a grasp class from Djokovic, particularly in a blistering first set that lasted simply 38 minutes and noticed the Serbian win 20 of twenty-two service factors. Djokovic additionally served up 13 aces throughout the match.
“Congratulations to you (Novak) for this week and not only: you started the season by winning and you ended it by winning, you won three Slams and many other tournaments,” Sinner stated. “What else is there to say? You’re an inspiration not just for all these watching, however particularly for the gamers.
“I also want to thank my team … we saw also today that I can still improve a lot but we can look at the positive things from this season. When we started the year I was one player and now I’m another. Thanks to you who have helped me understand so many things.”
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