{"id":7720,"date":"2023-11-12T20:23:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T01:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/novak-djokovic-clinches-no-1-atp-finish-for-record-eighth-time\/12\/11\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-11-12T20:23:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T01:23:41","slug":"novak-djokovic-clinches-no-1-atp-finish-for-record-eighth-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/novak-djokovic-clinches-no-1-atp-finish-for-record-eighth-time\/12\/11\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic clinches No. 1 ATP finish for record eighth time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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TURIN, Italy — Novak Djokovic<\/a> has secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time.<\/p>\n

Djokovic needed only one match win at the ATP Finals to be sure of keeping the top spot and the 24-time Grand Slam champion did it in his opener, beating Holger Rune<\/a> 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-3 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“It was a very emotional and tough win because of the significance,” Djokovic said. “That was added pressure, and attention.<\/p>\n

“It means a lot. You could see there was a lot of emotions on the court. I could feel it. I was very eager to win tonight’s match and get that monkey off my back.”<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old Djokovic had already moved ahead of previous record holder Pete Sampras (six years at No. 1) two years ago.<\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> took the honors last year.<\/p>\n

After this tournament, Djokovic will become the first player to hold No. 1 for 400 weeks, with Roger Federer<\/a> at 310 the only other man to eclipse the 300-week mark.<\/p>\n

If Djokovic raises the trophy next weekend, he’ll break a tie with Federer and capture a record seventh title at the finals.<\/p>\n

“A big goal is achieved; everything else now is a bonus,” Djokovic said.<\/p>\n

Djokovic has won 19 straight matches stretching back to his five-set loss to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old Rune was making his debut at the season-ending tournament for the year’s top eight players and pushed Djokovic to a deciding set for a fourth straight time in five career meetings.<\/p>\n

Djokovic also beat Rune in three tight sets at the Paris Masters this month.<\/p>\n

Earlier, Jannik Sinner<\/a> beat Stefanos Tsitsipas<\/a> 6-4, 6-4 for his tour-leading 14th win indoors this year — against just one loss.<\/p>\n

Sinner served nine aces to Tsitsipas’ six amid fast conditions inside the Pala Alpitour and didn’t face a single break point.<\/p>\n

“The match went really, really well and the crowd support was crazy,” Sinner said. “It’s not just about improvement, it’s about destinations and the destination I wanted to reach this year was to be here.”<\/p>\n

Matches in the other group on Monday feature Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev<\/a> and Daniil Medvedev<\/a> vs. Andrey Rublev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The top two finishers in each group advance to the semifinals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TURIN, Italy — Novak Djokovic has secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time. Djokovic needed only one match