Novak Djokovic had enough lead at the start and end as he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the ATP Finals on Monday, a defeat that ended the Greek’s hopes of winning the year by number. a. Djokovic is eighth in part because he missed two majors due to his vaccination status. He started the year by leaving Australia ahead of the Australian Open. With the 2023 edition set to begin on January 16, Djokovic has said his lawyers were in talks with Australian officials. On Monday, he said they had not yet reached an agreement.
“Nothing official yet,” he said. ‘We’re waiting. They communicate with the Australian government. I can’t tell you more for now.’
In Turin, Djokovic is chasing a record-equalling sixth title in the season-ending event, formerly known as the Masters Cup, which brings together the eight best fit players of the season.
The Serb broke Tsitsipas in the opening match and was not in danger on his own serve as he took the first set.
“The first game was very important to break his serve,” said Djokovic. “Starting with a service break is of course a huge confidence boost and also a relief as we both knew it was going to be an exciting game.”
Tsitsipas scored the only break point of the second set, in the fourth game, after two double faults by Djokovic, but the Serb held on and held on to his serve.
In the tiebreak, the Serbian rushed to a 5-1 lead. Tsitsipas delayed the inevitable by taking three points before Djokovic took his first match point.
“I kept my serve well throughout the game,” said Djokovic. “I played a great tiebreaker, very solid all the way.”
Losing Tsitsipas will see the injured Carlos Alcaraz finish at the top of the 2022 rankings unless Rafael Nadal, who lost his opening game on Sunday, can win the tournament.
Tsitsipas, who is 24, cannot collect enough points to reach number one, even if he bounces back to win the tournament.
“I deeply believe that I can reach that place one day,” he said. “To be honest, I’m not in that much of a hurry. Of course it would have been better if it had happened this week.”
Djokovic is tied for five titles in the event along with Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl. Only Roger Federer, at six, has won more.
“All the players said it. Every game is a final here, there are no clear favorites to be honest,” said Djokovic. “You have to be very sharp from the start.”
‘Peace peace peace’
The two-set victory put Djokovic at the top of the Red Group ahead of the day’s other winner, No. 7 Andrey Rublev of Russia, who defeated his compatriot Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).
Rublev looked on course to take the first set as he opened up a 4-1 lead.
World number five Medvedev, who was hit and miss on his serve all day, mixing 24 aces with eight double faults, fought back and saved two set points at 5-6 to win the set in a tiebreak.
Rublev rediscovered his rhythm in the second set as Medvedev continued to struggle with his serve.
In the tiebreak of the third set, Medvedev saved three match points at 3-6 and then a fourth.
But he was powerless on the fifth match point when Rublev closed the match, collapsing onto his back after two and a half hours on the court.
“Peace, peace, peace is all we need,” Rublev wrote on the court television camera at the end of the match, echoing his call for peace in Ukraine when he won in Dubai in February, just after the Russian invasion.
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