ATP Finals LIVE: Novak Djokovic breaks Roger Federer record with victory over Jannik Sinner
Djokovic claimed a record seventh ATP Finals crown as he defeated the Italian Sinner 6-3 6-3 in Turin
Novak Djokovic produced a masterful performance to tame home favourite Jannik Sinner and win a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals crown in Turin.
World No 1 Djokovic was unrelenting as he closed out a 6-3 6-3 victory, overturning a three-set defeat to the in-form Italian in the group stages this week.
Sinner was subdued by Djokovic’s fast start and outstanding serving, with the Serbian winning 28 of his first 30 service points in a breathtaking display of accuracy.
Victory at the season-ending tournament moves Djokovic ahead of Roger Federer’s previous record of six ATP Finals titles, as the 36-year-old wrapped up another staggering season with a statement display.
After dispatching Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals on Saturday, Djokovic has sent a message that he remains by some distance the most dominant men’s player in the game as he continues to deny his young rivals.
Defeat to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July was the only major loss of Djokovic’s season, as the Serbian finished the year with three grand slams, the ATP Finals title, and the year-end World No 1.
Follow live updates from the ATP Finals title match between Djokovic and Sinner, below:
Novak Djokovic caps ‘one of my best seasons’ after record-breaking ATP Finals title
Novak Djokovic emphatically gained revenge over Jannik Sinner to win a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals crown in Turin.
Five days after losing to Sinner in the group stage, Djokovic was in ruthless form from the outset as he lost just two points on serve in winning the opening set 6-3 in 38 minutes.
The world number then raced into a 2-0 lead in the second before Sinner saved three break points in the third game to bring the contest to life.
Roared on by the partisan crowd, Sinner finally got to grips with the Djokovic serve and forged two break points in the sixth game, only for the Serbian to save both and maintain his advantage.
Sinner held serve in a marathon seventh game but, after Djokovic did likewise to lead 5-3, the match ended on an anticlimactic note with a Sinner double fault.
Novak Djokovic caps ‘one of my best seasons’ after record-breaking ATP Finals title
The 36-year-old capped off an oustanding season as he added to his Australian Open, French Open and US Open titles
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Sinner
Djokovic in 2023:
Australian Open - W
French Open - W
Wimbledon - F
US Open - W
ATP Finals - W
Djokovic’s updated career stats:
Australian Open titles: x10
French Open titles: x3
Wimbledon titles: x7
US Open titles: x4
ATP Finals titles: x7
Year-end World No 1: x8
It’s quite silly
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Sinner
“Some of the best tennis I have ever seen”
Tim Henman on Amazon Video: “The bar is being set by Djokovic. There were times were Federer and Nadal were playing a game that we had never witnessed, but Djokovic today raised the bar again. Some of the best tennis I’ve ever seen. His shot-making, athletic ability, his consistency, his power, it was second to none. So those younger players who are trying to reach the summit, they have a long way to go.”
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Sinner
Novak Djokovic, speaking to Amazon Video.
“Very special. One of the best seasons I’ve ever had, no doubt. To crown it by beating the home town hero Jannik, who has played amazing this week, is phenomenal. I’ve been very proud of the past two performances, against Alcaraz and Sinner, the best two players in the world - next to me and Medvedev at the moment. The way they are playing, I had to step it up. Tactically I played different today that earlier in the week. It’s just been a phenomenal week.”
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Sinner
Just exceptional from Novak Djokovic, after a simple astonishing season.
This was a match of two sets: Djokovic was superb in the first set and Sinner could not do anything about it.
But then Djokovic’s level dropped slightly, especially on his serve, and it let Sinner back in.
The young Italian could not take his chances and he will learn a lot from that, after what has been a brilliant week for the 22-year-old in Turin.
Djokovic, though, found a way through it and this victory sends an emphatic message ahead of 2024.
At 36, he remains by some distance the best player in the world.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-3 6-3 Sinner
A double fault is not the way Djokovic would have wanted to win, but it seals a historic moment!
SEVEN ATP Finals titles, the most ever! Staggering.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 5-3 Sinner*
The wheels have fallen off a bit for Sinner now... another mistake leads to match point for Djokovic on the Italian’s serve.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 5-3 Sinner*
Oh hello...
Djokovic makes another staggering miss on the opening point with another volley that goes long... then Sinner dials up the pressure with a forehand out wide that Djokovic can’t return!
0-30... and again Sinner’s returning lets him down! Djokovic gets back into the game and Sinner then pushes a backhand wide as he looked for the line.
This would be a let off for Djokovic, and he takes it on deuce following another poor miss from Sinner! This time Djokovic closes the door - he finds an ace and gets the hold.
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 6-3 4-3 Sinner
That’s another gutsy hold from Sinner, who wins an epic 16-minute game!
It was a bit of a gift from Djokovic, though, who had break points and then missed a very simple backhand volley on the final deuce.
Sinner, who also wasted chances earlier in the game, eventually gets the hold with an ace out wide.
The 22-year-old is still in it... but the Italian came close to the brink there.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 4-2 Sinner*
Hold on a sec...
For the first time in the match, Sinner wins the first point on Djokovic’s serve. Then the Italian crushes a backhand winner crosscourt! 0-30, and the Turin crowd sense an opportunity!
Now Djokovic pulls a simple forehand wide! What is happening?! Two break points for Sinner, and the roof will come off the Turin arena should he take one...
Oh but how he would want these returns back... Sinner can’t get the return back in play and Djokovic takes charge again to keep his opponent away.
An awesome backhand down the line from Djokovic, and he passes his first real test of the match. Sinner thumps the sideboard as a rare chance goes begging.
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