Updated on 11/21/2022 at 7:38 am
- Novak Djokovic is unstoppable at the end of the tennis season and wins the ATP Finals for the sixth time.
- There had recently been a stir about the Serbian tennis professional because he was not vaccinated against the corona virus.
- Djokovic has now drawn level with the Swiss Roger Federer, who has since retired.
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At the beginning of the year, the former number one in the tennis world had to leave Australia after a legal dispute before the start of the Australian Open. He also missed the US Open because he was not vaccinated against the corona virus. Djokovic was unstoppable at the prestigious end of the year for the eight best tennis professionals of the season. “I’m really happy with how I played,” said Djokovic: “It’s a big relief.” The year was like a roller coaster ride.
Djokovic now unofficial world champion
After the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Finals are considered the most important event in tennis. Djokovic is now considered the unofficial world champion and, with his sixth success at the traditional end-of-year tournament, drew level with the Swiss Roger Federer, who has since retired. As an undefeated winner in the three preliminary round games as well, Djokovic secured a record bonus of 4.7 million US dollars, which Zverev had no chance of winning this year. The Hamburger has been pausing for months as a result of his foot ligament injury and has just had to accept another small setback with a positive corona test.
Djokovic didn’t seem physically comfortable against Ruud at the start. However, the Serbian tournament favorite recovered quickly and continued to improve. The 21-time Grand Slam tournament winner held his service games more confidently than Ruud from the start and avoided the tie-break with the first break of the match to make it 7: 5 in the first set.
Clear message: Djokovic wants to keep winning
In the semifinals against the American Taylor Fritz on Saturday, Djokovic had won the tie-break twice more and had more problems than Ruud against the Russian Andrei Rublev. In the second set of the final, Djokovic pulled away early with the break to make it 3-1 and gave Ruud no more chances. His message to the competition is clear: Djokovic wants to keep winning and will now be a top favorite again at the Australian Open at the beginning of the new season. (dpa/dh)
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