Image: JULIEN DE ROSA (AFP)
“It is very important to have clarity about what you want in life in order to understand who you are.” It wasn’t an empty phrase that Novak Djokovic uttered after his US Open title this year.
Before the tennis world number one starts this year’s ATP finals on Sunday in Turin against the Dane Holger Rune (group green), the 36-year-old Serb seems clearer in his head and therefore stronger than ever before. After three of four Grand Slam victories this year and his final victory at the Masters in Paris-Bercy, the “Djoker” is brimming with self-confidence.
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“I’m aiming for records,” he says. “I’ve never had a problem saying that. And that’s why people don’t like me.” A statement that some see as a swipe at Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard said that Djokovic would be “frustrated” if he didn’t have the most Grand Slam victories in tennis history.
Not only has Djokovic been leading since this year at 24, but he also has the same fitness as his competitors, some of whom are ten years younger. His former arch-rivals have retired (Roger Federer) or are injured (Nadal).
A range of records
The role of favorite in the season finale of the best eight tennis players of the year is the logical consequence. If successful, Djokovic could break several records in northern Italy:
- Sole record winner: If Djokovic wins in Turin, he will have won the ATP Finals for the seventh time, shaking off Federer (6) at the top of the all-time best list.
- Sound barrier: If Djokovic defends enough points in Turin, he will end the year as number one. On November 20th, he will be the first player ever to have held the lead in the world rankings for a total of 400 weeks. Federer also ranks second in this statistic.
- Prize money: The champion, who was also unbeaten in the preliminary round, will collect no less than 4.8 million dollars (4.47 million euros). There has never been so much to earn from a tennis tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz is considered the toughest challenger. The Spaniard, who opens in Group Red against Alexander Zverev on Monday, has not won a title this year since his Wimbledon victory and was disappointing in the fall. The low point was the second round exit less than two weeks ago against Roman Safiullin at the Masters 1000 tournament in Paris-Bercy, before that he failed in the round of 16 at the 1000 in Shanghai.
The omens are better for Jannik Sinner, among others. After his victory in the Wiener Stadthalle, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in three sets in the final, the South Tyrolean decided not to play in the Paris round of 16 in order to gather strength for Turin.
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Alexander Zverev and Neo-Becker’s protégé Rune only qualified at the last moment. For Zverev, who missed 2022 with an injury, participation in his comeback season is already a success.
ATP Finals, Group Green, Sunday: Jannik Sinner (Ita) – Sefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) 2.30 p.m., Novak Djokovic (Srb) – Holger Rune (Den) 9 p.m. Group Red, Monday: Carlos Alcaraz (Esp) – Alexander Zverev (D) 2.30 p.m., Daniil Medvedev – Andrei Rublev (both Rus) 9 p.m.
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Source: Nachrichten
