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:
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 6-3 3-2 Sinner
Sinner is hanging in here. The 22-year-old manages to scrape his way through another service game to stay in the match.
But against Djokovic’s serve, and this accuracy, he will need something special.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 3-1 Sinner*
Djokovic is producing one of the best serving performances you will ever see.
Another love hold.
Sinner, the fourth best player in the world, has won just TWO points against the Djokovic serve in the ENTIRE match.
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 6-3 2-1 Sinner
Sinner stops Djokovic’s run of points at 10 as he wins a gutsy backhand duel but the World No 1 senses an opportunity and does not relent for a moment.
The Serbian had a huge opportunity to claim the second break of serve as he lined up a forehand down the line, but he clips the net cord and it goes out.
Reprieve for Sinner? We’ll have to see - but that’s a big hold of serve after staring down the barrel of a double break.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 2-0 Sinner*
Just. Too. Good.
Two aces in a row from Djokovic - out wide on either side - as he wraps up his opening service game to love.
That’s eight points in a row to start the second set...
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 6-3 1-0 Sinner
The pressure from Djokovic is unrelenting as he jumps into a 0-30 lead on Sinner’s serve.
From there, Djokovic simply does not miss. He produces outstanding depth to the baseline and Sinner challenges in vain after Djokovic clips the baseline.
Another long rally - and Djokovic does not blink. He breaks to love to start the second set. Ominous.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 6-3 Sinner* - Djokovic wins the first set!
Djokovic roars on the opening point and pumps his fist after Sinner goes long at the end of a brutal baseline rally... the home fans don’t like that.
Another fist pump from Djokovic, this time as he lands an ace out wide. Djokovic stares the crowd down...
That’s wild from Sinner on the backhand return - miles out - it brings up three set points for Djokovic.
Sinner pushes wide!
Djokovic has tamed the Italian and the Turin crowd so far. Long way back for Sinner here.
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 5-3 Sinner
Sinner forces Djokovic to serve it out.
Given Djokovic has barely dropped a point on serve through this first set, it would either be a total collapse from the World No 1 or something rather special from the young Italian.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 5-2 Sinner*
A hold to love for Djokovic, sealed as Sinner struggles to deal with Djokovic’s sliced serve up the T.
This has been a real statement from the Serbian so far, to add to that spellbinding win over Carlos Alcaraz yesterday.
ATP Finals: *Djokovic 4-2 Sinner
That should settle Sinner slightly. He holds to 15 after landing a couple of big first-serve and squeezing out a rare error from Djokovic, this one on the backhand side.
Djokovic is in pole position to close out the first set from here, though.
ATP Finals: Djokovic 4-1 Sinner*
Utterly imposing from Djokovic - behind the serve and *that* forehand. Sinner nets after Djokovic finds a sublime angle with the forehand crosscourt and the No 1 takes the hold.
“Virtually unplayable,” says Tim Henman on Amazon Prime.
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