Novak Djokovic has once again proven his elite status by defeating Casper Ruud to capture his sixth ATP Finals title. The Serbian powerhouse relied on his mental toughness to overpower Ruud, sealing the championship with a clinical 7-5, 6-4 win in Turin. This victory ends a seven-year drought for Djokovic in this specific tournament and puts him on equal footing with Roger Federer in terms of total titles.
Djokovic's earlier successes at the season-ending championships occurred in 2008 and between 2012 and 2014. His current season was marked by the absence from two major tournaments, a result of his decision not to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
For his flawless run through the competition, Djokovic walked away with the largest prize in tennis history, totaling $4,740,300 (£3.985m). Additionally, at age 35, he has officially become the oldest champion in the history of the tournament, beating the previous record held by Roger Federer, who won it at 30.
The path to victory wasn't without hurdles; during his match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic dealt with visible physical tremors in his right hand. Despite the struggle, he pushed through to keep his unbeaten run alive. The final against Ruud began as a high-stakes chess match, with both players holding serve comfortably for 11 games. It seemed destined for a tie-break in the first set, especially as Ruud held a 30-15 lead while serving at 5-6.
However, Djokovic's superior anticipation kicked in; he swept four consecutive points to secure the break and take the first set. He maintained that momentum into the second, breaking early to lead 3-1. From there, he stayed in complete control, ending the match and securing his place in history with a powerful ninth ace of the day.
This victory marks the 91st title of Djokovic's career, bringing him within a single trophy of Rafael Nadal in fourth place, and 18 behind the all-time leader, Jimmy Connors, who holds 109.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic noted that the seven-year gap since his last ATP Finals win made this victory feel even more special. He attributed his success to an aggressive strategy and admitted that he is still driven by a fierce hunger for more trophies. He closed the interview by confidently stating that he still considers himself the top player in the world.