Yet another record for Novak Djokovic, who stops Jannik Sinner one step short of the finish line
Novak Djokovic confirms the title and also wins the 2023 ATP Finals, setting a new record.
The atmosphere at the Pala Alpitour è that of the most beautiful days, the most anticipated parties and moments that will forever be etched in the history books of sports, not just tennis. Because, even before he took the court, Jannik Sinner had already written history. No Italian before him, in 54 editions of the ATP Finals, had ever made it past the rounds. Jannik did it by finishing undefeated in the green group and defeating last Wednesday the very Novak Djokovic whom he could also have meanly eliminated, but his values led him down the opposite path. The right one.
His opponent in the ATP Finals è still Djokovic, in his ninth time at the last act of the Masters tournament. "I will tryò to make use of my greater experience on this stage" – the Serb had said yesterday in the conference: the start of the match goes precisely in this direction. The world No. 1 è almost perfect on serve throughout the first set, serving seven aces in his five turnovers and losing just two points on serve. Sinner, too, did not get off to a bad start, but down 1-2 he made a comeback from 40-15, missing three forehands (one of which had actually pinched the line, but the Azure did not call a challenge) and effectively waving goodbye to the first set. Exactly as happened with Medvedev, è the fourth game the decisive one for the fate of the first set. Jannik lost it and with him, a little later, the partial as well. Little depth on the part of the Italian, some understandable tension and the control of the game almost always in Djokovic’s hands handed the Serb the keys to the first fraction: 6-3.
The most obvious differences between the two today come from the returns with serve and forehand, exceptional for Djokovic, less brilliant for Sinner. Jannik continued to struggle in the exchange, overpowered by a super aggressive Nole who won the first ten points of the second set and flew to 2-0 0-30. In a heart-pounding third game, the Highlander tried to hang on, saving three break points and shortening to 1-2. The Serb's response? Three aces and a winning first. Jannik tries to increase the depth and power of his shots, trying despite the difficulties to vary the game with some bunts and descents to the net. In the sixth game, accomplices two very slow second serves by Djokovic, the world no°4 gets the first two break points of his match, cancelled forò in one instant by as many heavy first serves. Sinner wins a great game shortly after, lasting 22 points and in which he cancels two break chances, but it è not enough. A few too many errors doomed the South Tyrolean, who surrendered 6-3 6-3 after an hour and three quarters with a double fault on match point. Nothing però can ever erase Sinner’s extraordinary week, which made an entire country dream. Yet another record for Djokovic, who becomes the first tennis player ever to win the ATP Finals seven times, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record of six titles.
Giovanni Pelazzo
