Novak Djokovic claimed his record-equaling sixth ATP Finals trophy in Turin on Sunday. Novak defeated Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-3 to wrap up the season in style and secure 1500 ATP points after scoring all five wins. Djokovic took down Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz to reach his eighth ATP Finals title match.
Ruud gave his best to challenge a 21-time Major winner in the opener before losing ground in the closing stages. Novak took charge and brought the victory home from there to lift his third notable title of the season and gain a boost ahead of the Australian Open in January.
The Serb made one last push after the match, placing his daughter Tara in the trophy and lifting them together. Novak played on a high level in Turin, standing as the favorite and proving that on the court. Djokovic lost serve only twice in the round-robin stage before working hard against Taylor Fritz in the semi-final, beating him in two tie breaks and setting the title clash against Casper Ruud.
Novak Djokovic is the ATP Finals champion for the sixth time.
It was the fourth notable ATP final of the season for Djokovic and Ruud, and the Serb scored a victory to lift the fifth trophy in 2022. Novak fired nine aces and dropped 11 points behind the initial shot.
He never faced a break point and took charge on the rival’s second serve to create five break chances. Djokovic seized one in each set to control the pace and seal the deal in straight sets. Casper stayed in touch with Novak in the shortest range up to four strokes.
However, Djokovic overpowered the rival in the mid-range and most advanced exchanges, taming his strokes nicely and earning his victory in that segment. Novak did not look fresh in the opening set. Still, he stayed focused on his service games and lost only five points behind the initial shot.
Ruud denied break points in games two and eight to remain on the positive side, serving at 5-6 to introduce a tie break. Novak earned a set point and converted it after Casper’s loose backhand for 7-5 in 52 minutes. The Serb held at 15 at the start of the second set and landed a volley winner for a hold at love in game three.
Losing ground behind the initial shot, Ruud played a loose point at the net and faced two break points at 1-2. Novak forced Casper’s mistake on the first and grabbed a break that pushed him 3-1 in front. Djokovic produced another fine hold in game five and built a 4-1 advantage.
Ruud reduced the gap in game six and hoped for at least some chances on the return. Instead, the Serb produced a hold at 30 that pushed him 5-2 up and closer to the finish line. Ruud clinched the eighth game with a service winner, and Djokovic served for the title in the next one.
Novak moved 30-15 up with a smash winner and earned the first match point after the encounter’s longest point, which saw 36 strokes. Novak seized it with an ace to celebrate his sixth ATP Finals crown and wrap up the season on a high note.
