Novak Djokovic won the Nitto ATP Finals for the seventh time in his career and avenged a round-robin loss from earlier in the week, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday evening in Turin, Italy. Djokovic cruised to the title in one hour and 43 minutes.
“It’s one of the best seasons I’ve had in my life, no doubt,” the world No. 1 concluded. “To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal. I’m very proud of the performances these past two days.”
Building on momentum from a dominant 6-3, 6-2 semifinal performance against Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic came out on fire. The 36-year-old dropped only two service points in the entire opening set, so one break at 2-1 was easily enough.
Sinner saved three break points at 0-2 in the second to stay within striking distance, but it only delayed the inevitable. Djokovic encountered two tricky service games on his way to closing it out, when he fought off two break points with big first serves to hold for 4-2 and came back from 0-30 down at 4-3. Sinner did well to hold a 16-minute game of his own at 2-4, but he could not come up with another hold that would have forced his opponent to serve out the match. Instead, Djokovic broke at 5-3 to clinch victory in style–capitalizing on his first championship point when Sinner double-faulted.
The Serb is now 7-2 lifetime in finals at the year-end championship. He is 4-1 all time against Sinner, with a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) loss on Tuesday during round-robin competition in the Green Group.
[yop_poll id=”712″]
too good
Did you notice how Djokovic applauded Sinner’s drop shot to go up 40:15 on serve only for Djokovic to reel off 4 points in a row to get the break. From that point on Sinner was playing catch up.
Just saying, it’s an interesting coincidence, isn’t it.
You’d be surprised how the ego and the subconscious mind works.
IMO, that should be banned from the game because it can affect an opponent’s concentration.
Many things can affect that, hard to ban them all.
No, that is the one that should definitely be banned because in the heat of the battle, when they are dialed in, it softens the opponent up and gets them thinking about something else. The next point: Sinner comes in too early to the net and gets lobbed easily; then he starts thinking he lost that point because of the loss of concentration, and it compounds.
You can’t argue with the stats. Djokovic ends up winning the next point. I’m not suggesting that what Djokovic is doing is intentionally malicious, but I do think it’s an expression of control because he wouldn’t do it if the circumstances were different. The final isn’t a social tennis match; it’s a professional event of the highest level.
Djokovic is giving his endorsement, and he shouldn’t be giving his endorsement during the match.
Ask yourself this – would Djokovic be applauding that shot if he was about to go down a break.
It was an expression of control. We’ve seen what he’s like when he realises he doesn’t have control. He smashes his racquet into a 100 pieces.
I hope the ATP is reading this. Fix this loophole, it’s almost as good as the toilet break.
I’d like to see the statistics on this because everytime I’ve seen Djokovic applaud his opponent he’s gone on to win the next point or couple of points.
If I was running the ATP, I’d have that banned within a month. In professional sport, there should be no interactions between the two opponents.
Someone’s rattling your cage?
GOAT keeps goating.
He’s only GOATing you because you don’t have a clue how things work.
Just too good…and I was NOT cheering for him.
Not too good; Alcaraz only won because he was a bit more clutch at key moments in the first set against Medvedevm.
If Sinner doesn’t get broken and starts putting pressure on Djokovic’s serve, the whole dynamics of the match can change.
You can’t argue with the facts and the stats don’t lie. Djokovic ends up winning the next point or couple of points after applauding the shot.
Oh right .That’s why he has 24 Slams.Connors had only 8 and he was the master of distraction tactics.
It’s normal etiquette to applaud your opponent when they play an especially good point. Everyone does it.
yep. hardly a big deal.
Not when it causes the opponent to lose the next 4 points in a row at a critical point in the match.
Have a nice new year’s.
bad tennis caused Sinner to lose the next 4 points in a row
Seems a bit coincidental that every time Djokovic applauds a shot, his opponents ends up playing bad tennis immediately after handing him back the advantage that they just worked so hard for.
Have a good think about it and be honest with yourself
If they look up to him, he shouldn’t be giving his endorsement and potentially influencing the result. It makes them self-aware and takes them out of the zone, making them think that they need to play at a higher level or emulate what they just did.
It’s an interaction with your opponent that leads to adverse outcomes for the recipient. There’s a lot more going on here than you’re giving credit for.
The ATP needs to closely examine all player interactions to ensure the best possible outcomes. While I appreciate the sentiment of wanting to see players being amicable midway through a match, it’s not about personal preferences; it’s about what’s best for professional tennis.
By default, the player who just won the point that is applauded should have the momentum or advantage. Applauding the shot influences that momentum. If players were not allowed to applaud the shot, the opponent that won the point would retain that momentum, leaving Djokovic without a defense mechanism and allowing Sinner to build on that confidence unimpeded.
You’re missing the point and I have more important things to worry about.
If the upmiree said “Warning Novak Djokovic, player distraction”, I bet you Sinner maintains his intensity and wins that game.
Guest you sound like a dictator wannabe 😂😂😂 you want to ban applauses during matches 😂.
Djokovic also gets applauded sometimes during his matches and he wins.
I’m so glad guy’s like you have no power because if you do we will be doomed, breathing might be banned 😂😂😂.
There is no way J. Sinner defeats a player like Novak Djokovic twice in the same tournament I don’t think anyone has done it but it’s not impossible for it to happen but the chances are very low, we are talking about Novak here man give him some credit and respect.
This is the best player that has ever played the game of tennis, stats don’t lie, his win had nothing to do with applauding.
H2H is 4-1 and Novak would have won their first match if he didn’t choke in the 1st set.
But you never said whether the shot he applauded was worth applauding. If not,it could be seen as sarcastic.If it was a really good shot , how would applauding it be such a problem? Players are well used to that from the audience, for flips sake.
yep. this happens all the time.
I’m a big believer in positive encouragement, but not in this context. Djokovic needs to keep his endorsements to himself during a professional tennis match because it often results in negative consequences for his opponent. I believe it may be a defense mechanism that works to his advantage.
As soon as he applauded the shot, I knew Sinner was in trouble, and I’ve said it many times before. That’s my last post on this subject. It’s up to the ATP to do something about it if they want to improve the game.
Have you contacted ATP about the subject, if not you should do it?!
Big Al, I’ll take Lady Gaga for the next one, I’ll pick Whitesnake for Wimbledon (I am old school boy) and I’ll leave it to you pick the one for FO, again, you are good at it 😉
https://youtu.be/WyF8RHM1OCg?si=9n9TIsLwroM2aY9D
I don’t need to contact the ATP because I’m credible, and they read what I say, unlike you fools.
You got a laugh out of me, though. Well done.
Wog Boy, the next song to play for Djoko when he wins his next Slam. Think it’s by Lady Gaga
Have fun guys you might see me in the new year but maybe not.
Have fun too @Guest bro.
There will be more tennis news to talk about before the next season starts but I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
WB, Applause by Lady Gaga .Appropriate .
@Guest I understand your point perfectly, Djokovic is trying to get a psychological advantage he is playing mental games I get it but that’s not the main reasons for all his victories maybe it contributes a little I don’t know anyway he is the best player.
What’s your real name Guest?
Where is Nativenewyorker, Mira, Hawkeye and my good friend 😂 Joe Smith?
Hope they are alive and well.
Oh man… this guy is unstoppable .. I’m hoping that the youngsters can go one step beyond and put an end to his amazing winning streak. All respect and admiration for Novak but, I want him to stop winning.
I’m hoping for a 2024 in which Nadal retires winning RG and for the youngsters (I don’t count Alcaraz because he’s already proven that he can win GS) to start winning some majors.
But, like Novak said, he will still play as long as he keeps winning, that much is clear.