After home crowd favourite Jannik Sinner broke his 18-match win streak on Tuesday in the Nitto ATP Finals group stage, Novak Djokovic was hungry for revenge and delivered a peerless performance today to earn his 7 Nitto ATP Finals title. On court, the Serbian looked hungrier and more motivated, with him looking to find ways to improve from his defeat to the Italian by combining raw athleticism and attention to detail in a way his younger opponent could not match. To put into perspective, with the newer generation often relying on devastating groundstrokes, Novak continued what he always did best as he absorbed the pressure and countered with precise and immaculate shotmaking.
Another historical milestone for Novak Djokovic 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aQrS2CeOEe
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) November 19, 2023
Novak Djokovic Earned Revenge in the Sweetest Fashion in the Nitto ATP Finals
After suffering boos and taunts from the Italian crowd in his Nitto ATP Finals group stage match against Sinner, Novak came in with all guns blazing as he improved immensely on his fundamentals. For example, the Serbian hit 13 aces and won an absurd 91 per cent of his first-serve points in this match, and also utilised perhaps his most underrated weapon, his heavy crosscourt forehand, to break down Sinner’s own forehand, which had been reliable all week.
The first set was all Djokovic, as he won 20 of 22 service points and made just two unforced errors in a flawless display that saw him winning in 38 minutes. The second set did not start any better for the Italian as Novak grabbed another break in the first game. It was a disheartening scenario for the Italian to be in, as in every question he posed, the Serbian had the answer.
However, the Italian did show some resilience and gave the home crowd something to cheer about as the volume in the Pala Alpitour hit new levels when he clawed his way to 15/40 for a chance to level the second set at 3-3. Unfortunately, Novak was immovable as he recovered with three big first serves and led 4-2. While the Italian may feel he has his chances after holding on to a 16-minute service game, which saw the pair exchange eight deuces and lead 0-30 in Novak’s next service game, Novak’s dominance on serve proved too much as he eliminated any chance of a comeback.
Eventually, the pressure got to Sinner as the Italian ended the match with a double fault and allowed Djokovic to celebrate with his 7th Nitto ATP Finals Title. Although it was bittersweet to end on a sour note, Sinner should feel proud of his accomplishments throughout the Nitto ATP Finals as he became the first Italian to reach such a stage and was only denied by the Greatest of all time in his bid to become the youngest year-end champion since Stefanos Tsitsipas (21) in 2019.
Novak Djokovic Demonstrated the Distance Between Himself and the Younger Generation
Midway through the Nitto ATP Finals group stage, reporters were eager to ask Novak about his assessments of the three kids spearheading the new generation – Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune. In his response, Novak quickly objected to the term kids and stated: “It is not nice to call them kids; They’re above 18, so you’re officially not a kid anymore.”
The Serbian continued: “The generation of Alcaraz, Rune, and Sinner is very strong. Of course, it is expected for young players to be hungry, motivated, and constantly look for ways to improve and get stronger, faster, and better so they can clinch the biggest trophies in the game.
After winning against Sinner, Djokovic praised the Italian and Alcaraz for their performance as the catalyst in pushing him this Nitto ATP Finals week. “I am very proud of the performances these last two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and Medvedev at the moment. And the way they have been playing, I had to step it up and win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory, and that’s what I’ve done.”
Novak Djokovic Stands Alone at the Top
As mentioned above, Novak Djokovic has now won a record-breaking 7th Nitto ATP Finals title and distanced himself from Roger Federer, who he shared the record with before his victory today. Remarkably, Novak achieved this title by replicating his 2015 run, where he lost against the Swiss maestro in the group stage before winning the Finals against him.
At this moment in time, eight years later, Novak has broken the tie with the Swiss for most Nitto ATP Finals titles by beating Jannik Sinner in the finals after losing in the group stage. It is quite a coincidence of events, and Novak acknowledged the special feeling by ending the tour with another record-breaking accomplishment. “Very, very special. No doubt, one of the best seasons I’ve had in my life. To crown it with a win against a hometown hero, Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal.”
The Serbian also celebrated his Nitto ATP Finals triumph with his two young children sitting courtside. “They’ve been so good the past couple of days watching tennis. It is a thrill. I always wanted to perform in front of them once they reached the age when they were aware of what was going on. I think this is the age right now. They are both conscious of what is happening, and I’m so grateful to be the father of these two wonderful angels. They blessed me with so much happiness and joy in my life. They give me strength.”
As for what we could expect from Novak heading into 2024, the Serbian would likely take a break and mentally recharged before heading into the Hopman Cup and the Australian Open. Will Novak continue to further his accolades, or can the newer generation overcome this goliath? Let us know your thoughts on our site here.
Novak Djokovic’s biggest fans. ❤️pic.twitter.com/Vd5LZEKuRe
— Danny 🐊 (@DjokovicFan_) November 19, 2023
