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IMAGE: Novak Djokovic’s nineteenth successive win ended any likelihood of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz overtaking him within the rankings this week. {Photograph}: Matteo Ciambelli/Reuters
Novak Djokovic ultimately tamed Danish debutant Holger Rune with a 7-6(4), 6-7(1), 6-3 victory in his opening spherical robin match on the ATP Finals to seal the year-end primary rating for a record-extending eighth time on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Serb was stretched to the restrict at occasions with Rune producing some fireworks for the big night crowd in Turin’s cavernous Pala Alpitour.
However after an uncharacteristically poor second-set tiebreak, Djokovic made his expertise depend as he started his quest for a report seventh title on the year-ender.
Earlier on day one, Jannik Sinner made a dream begin in entrance of his dwelling crowd with a 6-4 ,6-4 defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas of their opening Inexperienced Group conflict.
Djokovic will subsequent face Sinner on Tuesday.
The Serbian’s nineteenth successive win ended any likelihood of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz overtaking him within the rankings this week.
A sensational first set had the group on the sting of their seats with Djokovic edging it on the tiebreak.
However the 20-year-old Rune, who had received in two of their first 4 conferences, was undeterred and cranked up the facility to take the set to a different tiebreak which he raced away with.
Djokovic broke early within the deciding set however then handed again the benefit with a poor service sport, smashing two rackets throughout the changeover.
Rune wavered once more although at 2-3 as he misplaced his focus and commenced to rant in direction of coach Boris Becker.
This time there was no coming again as Djokovic eased dwelling.
“It took all the things. The primary sport he was firing photographs and I knew it might be a troublesome night time,” Djokovic, who now boasts an 18-1 report in his opening match on the event, stated.
“He performed nice and I performed nice in moments. It was an emotional win realizing that I’d clinch the world primary.”
World quantity 4 Sinner, who has certified for the ATP Finals first time having performed as an alternate final 12 months, delighted the Italian followers with an excellent show.
He served beautifully all through and struck his floor strokes with venom, needing only one service break in every set to wrap up a routine victory.
“It was an extended week earlier than coming right here and I used to be excited to lastly step on court docket,” the 22-year-old Sinner stated. “I knew it might be powerful, however I believe I answered the questions very well.
“It is a particular week, such an unbelievable feeling taking part in right here with the roof closed and the group.”
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