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Novak Djokovic had enough of a start and finish as he overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Monday in the ATP Finals, a defeat that ended Greece’s hopes of ending the year in number. One.
Djokovic finished eighth in part because he missed two majors due to his vaccination status, as he started the year with his expulsion from Australia ahead of the Australian Open.
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With the 2023 edition kicking off on January 16, Djokovic said his lawyers are talking to Australian officials. On Monday, he said they had not reached an agreement.
He said: “Nothing is official yet. We are waiting. They are communicating with the Australian government. That’s all I can tell you at the moment.”
In Turin, Djokovic is seeking a record-equalizing sixth title in the end-of-season event, formerly known as the Masters Cup, which brings together the eight best players of the season.
Serbian Tsitsipas broke in the opening match and was not threatened by serving himself as he took the first set.
“The first match was very important for his break,” said Djokovic. “Starting with a break is definitely a big confidence booster and relief as well because we knew it was going to be a tough match.”
Tsitsipas managed to break the second set break point, in the fourth game, after two double faults for Djokovic, but the Serbian settled and kept serving.
In the second half, the Serbian led 5-1. Tsitsipas delayed the inevitable with three points before Djokovic took his first point of the match.
“I kept my serve well during the match,” Djokovic said. “I played a great run, very strong the whole time.”
Tsitsipas’ loss means injured Carlos Alcaraz will finish 2022 at the top of the standings unless Rafael Nadal, who lost his opening match on Sunday, can win the tournament.
Tsitsipas, 24, can’t collect enough points to reach number one even if he bounces to win the championship.
He said, “I firmly believe I can get to this place one day. I’m not really in a rush, to be honest. Of course, it would have been better if it had happened this week.”
Djokovic tied five titles in this event with Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl. Roger Federer is the only one to have won more.
All the players said it. “Every final here, there is no clear candidate to be honest,” Djokovic said. You have to be really sharp from the start.”
– Hello, hello, peace.
The two-set win put Djokovic ahead of the other winner of the day, Andrei Rublev of Russia, who beat compatriot Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 7-6 (9). / 7).
Rublev looked on his way to taking the first set as he opened the lead 4-1.
The world number five Medvedev, who had been unsteady all day on serve, reclaimed 24 aces with eight double faults and saved two set points at 5-6 to win the set in a tiebreak.
Rublev rediscovered his rhythm in the second set as Medvedev continued to struggle with his serve.
In the third set tiebreak, Medvedev saved three match points at 3-6 and then a fourth.
But he was weak on the fifth point of the game as Rublev finished the match, and slumped on his back after two and a half hours on the field.
“Peace, peace and peace is all we need,” Rublev wrote on the television camera in the stadium at the end of the match, echoing his call for peace in Ukraine When he won in Dubai in February, right after the Russian invasion.
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