Novak Djokovic’s particular puzzle in 2023 was missing three pieces: finish the year as number one, the ATP master crown and the Davis Cup. The Balkan placed the first of the three pieces this Sunday with his victory against Holger Rune in his debut at the ATP Finals of Turn. It was with a score of 7-6(4), 6-7(1) and 6-3, in 3 hours and 4 minutes.
Djokovic, that added 200 more points to his lockernow has 10,145 points, a figure impossible for Carlos Alcaraz to reach even if he finishes the masters tournament undefeated.
The Murcian has 8,455 points and the maximum he could reach is 9,945. The Serbian, in his sixteenth participation in the Masters Cup, gave a good account of a rival who was his last executioner in tough indoors.
It was on the distant November 6, 2022 in the Pars-Bercy final.
Djokovic, who has chained 19 victories on the circuit and 12 indoors, is going for all the records. On Monday, November 20, one day after the teachers’ meeting concluded, reach 400 weeks as ATP leader. That day, regardless of his result in Turin, he will already be in Malaga to try to win the second Silver Salad for Serbia.
Alcaraz interrupted Djokovic’s military walk from Roland Garros to Turin. Of the last 33 matches, he only gave up one against the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final.
Rune has weapons to defeat the Balkan. He did it first in Bercy and later in the rooms of the Italian Forum in Rome. He also offered a motivating argument on the bench with the presence of the German Boris Becker, formerly of Nole.
Numbers one at the end of the season
Novak Djokovic 8
Pete Sampras 6
Jimmy Connors 5
Roger Federer 5
Rafael Nadal 5
The Scandinavian hit first with a break in the fifth game. What happens is that Holger performs better when he is behind on the scoreboard than when he was ahead.
That’s why he delivered his serve immediately afterwards. And Djokovic, when you forgive him, he makes you pay. With 5-5 and equal, Rune claimed the support of the stands. Novak also wanted applause when he ensured sudden death.
It’s very exciting for me to finish as number one again.
Novak Djokovic
In the heads or tails the best tend to decide in their favor and the best is the Serbian, winner in 322 of the 487 contests throughout his career. That’s more than a percent success.
Becker’s pupil signs the tables
In the continuation the script was repeated. The aspiring master went ahead with a 2-0 and serve and it was of no use to him. In a flash, his decorated executioner had already taken his place. In the stands he enjoyed the show Carlos Alcaraz Sr.
Rune held on to the track and forced the jump-off heat. Despite being 16 years older, the greatest prevailed and his name is Djokovic.
2023-11-12 23:19:00
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