Novak Djokovic yesterday morning patted his chest, crouched down, placed his right hand on the court and looked inward. It was clearly a moment to cherish for the 24-time Grand Slam champion after securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time.
Djokovic needed only one match win at the ATP Finals to be sure of keeping the top spot and he did it in his opener, beating Holger Rune 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 in a match spanning more than three hours on Sunday and into yesterday morning.
“It was a very emotional and tough win because of the significance of tonight’s match,” Djokovic said. “That was added pressure, and attention.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
“It means a lot,” he added. “You could see there was a lot of emotions on the court. I could feel it. I was very eager to win tonight’s match and get that monkey off my back.”
The 36-year-old Djokovic had already moved ahead of previous record holder Pete Sampras (six years at No. 1) two years ago.
Carlos Alcaraz took the honors last year.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Djokovic bounced back this year by winning three of the four major titles and finishing runner-up to Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
“It always has been a huge objective and huge goal of mine to be No. 1 in the world. Other than Grand Slams, that’s what counts the most,” Djokovic said. “To finish off the year as No. 1 at this stage of my life and career is something really amazing.”
After this tournament, Djokovic would become the first player to hold the No. 1 ranking for 400 weeks, with Roger Federer, at 310 weeks, the only other man to eclipse the 300-week mark.
If Djokovic raises the trophy this weekend, he would break a tie with Federer and capture a record seventh title at the tour finals.
“A big goal is achieved. Everything else now is a bonus,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic has won 19 straight matches since his five-set loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July.
Earlier in the same group, Jannik Sinner beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4.
“Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Sin-ner, Sin-ner,” the crowd chanted.
The way they serenaded Sinner after his brisk win over Tsitsipas in the opening match of the tournament made it sound like a soccer stadium inside the Turin arena.
Before the Italian could respond during an on-court interview, fans started singing his name so loudly that all he could do was step back, smile and say: “Grazie.”
“The feeling is this,” Sinner said. “Kind of a football stadium. Also with the roof closed, it’s a little bit louder. It’s nice. It means that the people, they really care about me,” he said.
Supported by chants of “Vai Jannik” (“Go Jannik”) and signs that read “Facci Sognare” (“Let us dream”), Sinner gave the fans just what they came for with his blistering baseline shots and strong serve.
The 22-year-old Sinner is finishing up a year in which he has claimed four titles including his first Masters 1000 trophy and is up to a career-high No. 4 — the first Italian that high since Adriano Panatta nearly a half-century ago.
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