Tennis: Djokovic finishes troubled year with 'satisfying' ATP Finals title

TURIN, Italy -- Novak Djokovic said winning a record-equaling sixth ATP Tour Finals title on Sunday was a "deeply satisfying" ending to his troubled and truncated year.

The Serb beat Norwegian Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-3 in Turin to match Roger Federer's record of six titles in the year-ending tournament for the top-ranked players.

The 35-year-old Serb, the oldest player to win the Finals, ended in style after a season in which he missed two majors because of his vaccine status.

"It feels deeply satisfying and, at the same time, a huge relief because of the circumstances that I have been through this year, situations earlier this year, of course, with Australia," he said. 

"We don't need to go back. We know what happened."

In January, Djokovic was detained and deported from Australia over his Covid non-vaccinated status and missed the Australian Open.

"That had an effect obviously on my start of the year. For the first several months, I was trying to find that balance game-wise but also mentally in order to be able to come back to the court and find that tennis level that I need."

Djokovic was initially barred from returning to Australia before 2025 but earlier in the week the new government in Canberra said the nine-time Australian Open champion would be free to compete in January's tournament.

“I don't know what the future holds but I know that what I hold in my mind is a huge hunger still to win trophies,” said Djokovic.

The win in Turin, which also brings a cheque for $4.7 million, came seven years after his last ATP Finals victory and will lift him from eighth to fifth in Monday's new rankings at the end of a season in which he also won Wimbledon. Carlos Alcaraz, who missed the finals injured, is number one.

"In my mind I always see myself as the best player in the world, of course," he said.

"I'm not. I'm fifth. This week I probably am. Overall the rankings are showing who had the best year, and Alcaraz is the No. 1 in the world."

Djokovic and his wife brought his eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter to Turin.

"Extremely special for me," he said. "I don't get to have these moments on the tour with them so much."

"I took both of my children, particularly my son, a lot to the tennis training sessions, warmups, matches. He was very loud, I must say. I was very surprised. I could hear his voice the entire time."

"They both are now aware of what's going on, what the father is doing."

- 'Close points' -

For the 23-year-old Ruud it was a third near-miss of the year. He also lost the finals of the French and US Opens.

"In the end it's been disappointing to end up losing these big finals," he said. 

"Overall if you gave me an offer to end the year at No. 3, play the finals that I've played, at the first of January this year, I would probably sign the contract right away."

"I've overachieved compared to my own mind, so I'm very happy about that."

Ruud has never taken a set from either Djokovic or his French Open final conqueror Rafael Nadal.

"They have this sort of ability in them to step up when they really have to that I don't have," Ruud said. "They always seem to win the close points, the close sets."

The American Rajeev Ram and Britain's Joe Salisbury took the doubles title with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 win over the Croatian pair of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic. 

Ram and Salisbury lost in last year's final to French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herber

Agence France-Presse

Murray eyes long reign at the top

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Andy Murray has warned Novak Djokovic he is ready to embark on a sustained period of dominance after the Scot crowned a golden season by finishing on top of the world.

Murray produced an imperious display to defeat Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 and win the ATP Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena on Sunday.

The 29-year-old's first Tour Finals title came with the hugely significant bonus of ensuring that he remained above Djokovic in the year-end rankings after he knocked the Serb from pole position two weeks ago.

Having spent the majority of his career overshadowed by the incredible achievements of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Murray can finally claim he is the best player on the planet and he has no intention of relinquishing his grip on that honour without a fight.

"I would like to try and stay there, obviously. It's taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there," Murray said after his 24th consecutive victory brought him a fifth title in his last five tournaments.

"I'm aware that's going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year and I only managed to do it by one match.

"But now that I've got there, I would be motivated to try and stay in that position."

When he wakes up on Monday morning, even Murray might be tempted to ask himself if the last 11 months were all a dream.

As if winning a second Wimbledon title, taking a second Olympic gold medal and becoming a father for the first time wasn't enough to keep him happy, Murray is now looking down on the rest of the tennis world from his new perch.

-Major motivation -

And, with Djokovic stuck in a rut for several months and Federer and Nadal battling with injuries in the twilight of their careers, Murray knows there's a chance for him to add to his three Grand Slam titles and extend his lead at the top.

"The majors are what gets me working hard and what really, really motivates me. When I go away in December to train, I'm training with the Australian Open in mind," he said.

"I'd want to try and achieve as much as I can these next few years because I'm not going to be around forever.

"These next few years, I want to try and make them the best of my career, try and win as much as I can. "

Murray had lost 13 of his previous 15 meetings with Djokovic, including the Australian and French Open finals this year, and he admitted it was a huge moment finally to get the better of his old rival.

"Over the last couple of years I lost a lot of the big matches against him. This one was a big match and I managed to get over the line," he said.

"Mentally that will give me a boost going into next year as well."

- The best -

Murray is now firmly established as one of Britain's all-time great sportsmen, but he demurred when asked where he rated.

"I have no idea. It's an impossible question. In tennis terms, in terms of my achievements over the years, I'd say I'd be the best tennis player from the UK," he said.

By most standards, winning two Grand Slams, including a first French Open, would make 2016 a great year, but Djokovic goes into the off-season admitting he will be happy not to think about tennis for a while.

The 29-year-old has won only one title since June and losing the top ranking to Murray in a tournament he had won for the past four years was the final indignity.

Assailed by whispers about his private life and criticised for bringing a 'spiritual guru' into his camp, Djokovic insists he is still hungry for success.

"The last five, six months have not been ideal. I could have maybe done slightly better in some tournaments," he said.

"I've just been through so much emotions since Roland Garros. I needed some time to really take it all in but I didn't have that time.

"I guess that all had its toll. Right now I'm actually looking forward to have a month and a half with no tournaments.

"Nothing is eternal. It's time to leave the racquet aside for a little bit, just recover, then I'll start thinking about next season."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Murray, Djokovic target year-end top spot

LONDON - Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will stage a dramatic battle to finish 2016 on top of the world as the two old rivals aim for the title at the ATP Tour Finals.

A friendly rivalry that began 15 years ago when they first faced off in European junior tournaments will reach a new level over the week as they fight to end the year as the world number one.

Murray shattered Djokovic's 122-week reign at the top last weekend when the Wimbledon champion became the first British man to reach pole position in the ATP rankings.

But Murray has only a 405-point lead over Djokovic in the rankings and the Scot can be passed by the Serb if he doesn't match or better his rival's performance at the prestigious season-ending event at London's O2 Arena.

As the top two seeds, Murray and Djokovic have been drawn in different groups in the eight-player tournament, meaning they can't meet before the semi-finals.

If their 35th Tour-level meeting comes in the final, it would be a fitting occasion to decide the top ranking, which last changed hands at the Tour Finals in 2001 when Lleyton Hewitt supplanted Gustavo Kuerten.

Murray has enjoyed an incredible 11 months on and off the court in which he has won Wimbledon for the second time, claimed a second Olympic singles gold medal and become a father to baby daughter Sophia.

"This year is the best I've had on court, the last few months have been the best in terms of my consistency," Murray said.

"Away from the court it's been by far the best in my life, a big change and a great change. I've really enjoyed being a parent.

"When I step on the court I will have a little more confidence and feel better about myself.

"I don't want to spend time discussing what's happened in the last few months. I want to keep getting better.

"That's what I've always tried to do. I don't feel any different."

CENTER OF ATTENTION

Although Murray has lost 24 of his clashes with Djokovic, few of his peers on the Tour question his right to be number one after such a strong year.

Djokovic agrees, saying: "I have only words of praise for what he has achieved in the last year or so.

"Definitely he is a well deserved number one at this point. He has been the best player for the last six months without a doubt.

"Whether he can sustain that is not a question for me but looking at his qualities and commitment there is a good chance he can play at this level for a long time."

Djokovic has been in a slump since winning the French Open in June to complete his career Grand Slam, raising questions about his appetite for continued success.

But the 12-time major winner might find the O2 Arena is the ideal venue to restore his confidence.

He has won the Tour Finals for the last four years and another success this year would equal Roger Federer's record of six titles.

With Federer and Rafael Nadal both absent due to injury, Djokovic and Murray will be the centre of attention.

They could have very different paths to the trophy as Djokovic holds a remarkable 23-0 combined record against Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem, who comprise his group stage opponents.

In contrast, Murray, who has never been past the semi-finals of the event, has to survive a tricky group featuring US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, as well as Japan's Kei Nishikori and Croatian Marin Cilic, who have both beaten the Scot this year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Murray begins Tour Finals with Cilic showdown

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Andy Murray will face Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic in the ATP Tour Finals group stage as the newly crowned world number one looks to win the prestigious tournament for the first time.

Murray has never been past the semi-finals at the season-ending event, but the Scot arrives at London's O2 Arena with a huge incentive to take the title.

The 29-year-old shattered Novak Djokovic's 122-week reign at top of the world rankings over the weekend by reaching the final of the Paris Masters.

To ensure his first taste of the number one position lasts more than two weeks, Murray must match or better Djokovic's performance at the Tour Finals, a tournament the Serb has won for the last four years.

After toasting his success while flying back to London on a private jet after winning the Paris Masters on Sunday, Murray was back to business on Monday as he learned his initial opponents in the Tour Finals.

Murray has had mixed results against his group rivals this year, losing to Japan's Nishikori in the US Open quarter-finals after beating him at the Rio Olympics and in the Davis Cup.

He has lost three of his last four matches against world number three Wawrinka, including in last year's group stage, although he did beat the Swiss in their only meeting this year in the French Open semi-finals.

Murray was also beaten by former US Open champion Cilic in their last meeting, in the Cincinnati final, but he defeated the Croatian in the Queen's Club semi-finals in June.

After winning Wimbledon for a second time and then taking the second Olympic singles gold of his career, Murray can cap a dream year by lifting the Tour Finals trophy.

"Yesterday was a great day, today has just been a normal day at home with the family," said Murray, whose first match of the Tour Finals will be against Cilic next Monday.

"Once you're out on the court you don't think about your ranking. You're playing against the top eight players in the world. I look forward to getting out there and playing at the O2.

"I'll try and take a few days rest now, start hitting again on Thursday. I need a few days' break.

"It will be one big push for all the guys. Everyone has played a lot of tennis and hopefully everyone can play well."

After looking invincible in the first half of the year, Djokovic, who faces Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem in the other group, suddenly finds himself playing second fiddle to Murray.

The reigning Australian and French Open champion will play in the first match of the Tour Finals on Sunday against rising Austrian star Thiem.

Draw for the ATP World Tour finals group stage made in London on Monday (x denotes seeding):

Group McEnroe

Andy Murray (GBR x1)

Stan Wawrinka (SUI x3)

Kei Nishikori (JPN x5)

Marin Cilic (CRO x7)


Group Lendl

Novak Djokovic (SRB x2)

Milos Raonic (CAN x4)

Gael Monfils (FRA x 6)

Dominic Thiem (AUT x8)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Djokovic aiming to end golden year with a bang

LONDON - With three of the four grand slam titles and a record six Masters Series crowns scooped up in a year of domination, Novak Djokovic could be forgiven for using the ATP Tour Finals in London as a well-earned lap of honour.

Not a bit of it.

The 28-year-old world number one's appetite for stomping all over his supposed rivals is insatiable.

Serbian Djokovic will start as overwhelming favourite to claim a fourth consecutive title at the year-ender, having won 14 matches in a row at the Thames-side venue where last year ended in anti-climactic fashion as Roger Federer withdrew from their showdown with a back injury.

The numbers Djokovic has compiled this year surpass even his dominant 2011 campaign when he also won three majors.

He will arrive with a 78-5 win/loss record and on a 22-match winning streak, stretching back to his defeat by Federer in the Cincinnati final in August.


 He has owned the number one ranking since July 2014 and he will end the year there for a fourth time -- the same as John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl.

"In terms of the grand slams, this has been a better season than 2011," Djokovic, who would have won all four but for an inspired Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open final, said in an interview with Sport Magazine.

"It's about the overall feeling of my game -- the way I play and the way I feel on the court. I'm a more complete player physically; technically I've improved since 2011, and mentally I'm more stable."

Worryingly, no one seems to have a clue how to stop him.

World number two Andy Murray, who is juggling the Tour Finals on home soil with trying to win the Davis Cup for Britain for the first time since 1936 the week after, has lost 10 of his last 11 matches against Djokovic.

Murray failed to survive the round-robin stage last year when he was demolished by Federer.

Since losing to Djokovic in last week's Paris Masters final he has practised mainly on clay in readiness for Davis Cup duty in Ghent.

He was, however, placed in the easier-looking group in Thursday's draw, avoiding Federer and Djokovic.

Federer, 34, always puts on a show in London -- having reached the final four times since the event moved from Shanghai in 2009, winning twice.

Unlike last year when several new faces qualified, this year's eight are the usual suspects, with Japan's Kei Nishikori the least experienced on his second appearance.

A rejuvenated Rafael Nadal is back after missing out last year through injury and while still not quite the formidable foe he was at his peak the Spaniard will relish testing his improvement against Murray and Wawrinka in group play.

David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych will do well to reach the semis, Wawrinka could be the dark horse after reaching the last four in 2013 and last year when he lost an epic to Federer. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Toby Davis)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com