(Turin) Novak Djokovic ended the year as he started it – by breaking records.
The world number one set a record by winning the ATP Finals title for the seventh time in his career on Sunday in Turin, Italy.
The Serb needed 1 hour and 43 minutes to defeat Italian Jannik Sinner in two sets of 6-3, 6-3.
Aged 36, Djokovic began 2023 by triumphing for the 10th time at the Australian Open and he obtained a 23rd Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, beating Spaniard Rafael Nadal. After losing in the final to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon, Djokovic won the US Open.
Djokovic entered the match tied with Switzerland Roger Federer for the most titles at this season-ending tournament that features the world’s top eight players.
He raised his arms and smiled brightly after confirming his victory, following a double fault from Sinner. This triumph echoed the methodical victory he recorded against Alcaraz in the semi-final on Saturday.
“I’m very proud of my performances in the last two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the two best players in the world next to me and [Daniil] Medvedev at the moment. After seeing their way of playing, I had to step up my efforts,” Djokovic emphasized.
“I had to win the matches and not wait for them to give me victory, and that’s what I did. I think I played with different tactics today compared to the group stage against Jannik. Overall, it was a phenomenal week. »
It was Djokovic’s fourth victory at the expense of Sinner, who had scored his first career victory against the Serb in the group stage of the ATP Finals. Sinner became the first Italian to reach the final of this tournament.
Djokovic, however, was in compelling form on Sunday and won 14 consecutive points, from the end of the first set to the third game of the second, to distance himself.
By virtue of his opening victory of the tournament, Djokovic had already secured the top of the year-end ATP rankings for the eighth time in his career, which is a record.
Djokovic will become the first player to hold the No. 1 ranking for 400 weeks. Federer, at 310 weeks, is the only other man to eclipse the 300-week mark.
It was also only the second time in the last 15 years that a player had advanced to the final of all four Grand Slams and the ATP Finals. Djokovic was also the author, in 2015.