The Serbian Novak Djokovic won the ATP Finals for the sixth time this Sunday by beating the Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud, in the Italian city of Turin, equaling the Swiss Roger Federer.
Djokovic, eighth in the world tennis ranking, defeated Ruud, fourth in the hierarchy, in two ‘sets’, by 7-5 and 6-2 in the final of the tournament that brought together the best tennis players in the world, in one hour and 30 minutes.
The Serbian, who had already won the ‘masters’ in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, succeeded the German Alexander Zverev and equaled Federer, who this year ended his career and held the record for wins, with wins in 2003, 2004., 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011.
At the age of 23, and making his second appearance, Ruud played in his first final of the season-ending tournament, against the 35-year-old Djokovic, who played in the decider for the eighth time and became the oldest winner in history. .
Ruud, a finalist at Roland Garros and the US Open, still did not win a ‘set’ against Djokovic, as had happened in the last three games, without preventing the Serbian from triumphing again in the competition, seven years after the last victory in 2015 in London.
In the first set, Djokovic had three break points, two on the rival’s first serve, but he only broke it to close the set, at 7-5.
Later, he returned to counter Ruud’s serve, to reach 3-1, sealing the 6-3 victory, calmly, with an ace, ending, as in 2012, 2013 and 2014, without any defeat in the 2022 edition of the Finals ATP, which did not have the presence of the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, number one in the world, due to injury.
“These types of matches are decided by a narrow margin, but we both served well. I managed to make him run, trying to be aggressive and it worked. I had some mistakes, I have to be 100% concentrated, but I was a bit nervous”, admitted the Serb.
This was the second major title of the year for Djokovic, after the triumph at Wimbledon, in a year marked by his refusal to be vaccinated against the coronavirus that causes covid-19 that kept him away from the Australian Open and the United States Open.
“It’s been seven years, it’s a long time, but at the same time, because it’s been so long, this victory is sweeter,” said Djokovic, admitting his holiday anxiety, after “a strange season”, due to his doubt in “knowing, every week, if he played or not”.
In pairs, the American Rajeev Ram and the British Joe Salisbury, finalists in 2021, beat the Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the decisive match, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-4, in one hour and 27 minutes.
Source: TSF
