Top-ranked Novak Djokovic has won a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title with a straight-set victory over home favourite Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic took one hour and 43 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3 as the Serbian continues to break records at the age of 36.
Despite the dominant showing, Djokovic was full of praise for the 22-year-old Sinner and optimistic about his future in the sport.
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“Congratulations Jannik on your great week, you must be proud of what you have done during the year,” he said during the trophy presentation.
“You are very close to winning slams and being No.1 in the world, I wish you a great season in 2024.”
Sinner was the first man under the age of 23 to reach the final undefeated since Roger Federer in 2003.
Djokovic entered the match tied with Federer on six titles at the season-ending tournament for the year’s top eight players.
And he stretched out his arms and beamed broadly after clinching his seventh when Sinner double-faulted.
The victory capped one of the most successful seasons of Djokovic’s 20-year professional career.
“Very special. One of the best seasons I’ve had in my life,” Djokovic said post-match.
“To crown it with a win against hometown hero Jannik who’s played amazing tennis this week is phenomenal. I’m very proud of the performances these last two days against [Carlos] Alcaraz and Sinner. [They are] probably the best two players in the world next to me and [Daniil] Medvedev at the moment.
“The way they’ve been playing, I had to step it up. I had to win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory. That’s what I’ve done.
“I’ve tactically played differently today than I did in the group stage against Jannik. Overall, phenomenal week.”
The victory had echoes of the clinical way Djokovic dispatched second-ranked Alcaraz in Sunday’s semi-final encounter.
It was Djokovic’s fourth win over Sinner, who had recorded a first-ever victory against Djokovic in the group stage in Turin and was the first Italian to reach the final.
But Djokovic was in imperious form in the final, winning 14 straight points from the end of the first set to the third game of the second to leave him firmly in control and subdue the Turin crowd.
Djokovic had already secured the year-end No.1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time by winning his opening match at the ATP Finals.
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Following this tournament, Djokovic will become the first player to hold the No.1 ranking for 400 weeks, with Roger Federer at 310 the only other man to eclipse the 300-week mark.
It was also only the second time in the last 15 years that a player has made the finals of all four grand slam tournaments and the ATP Finals.
The only previous occasion was when Djokovic did it in 2015.