Novak Djokovic beat Holger Rouen 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-3 in a match that lasted more than three hours on Sunday and Sunday to set a new year-end No. 1 ranking for the eighth time. As of Monday morning.
Djokovic, 36, had surpassed previous record holder Pete Sampras (six consecutive years at No. 1) two years ago. Last year, Carlos Alcaraz won the honor. But Djokovic has made a comeback this year, winning three of his four Grand Slam titles and finishing runner-up to Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
After this match, Djokovic will become the first player to hold the world No. 1 ranking for 400 consecutive weeks, while Roger Federer broke the 300-week mark with 310.
If Djokovic lifts the trophy next weekend, he will break the tie with Federer and win the title for a record seventh time in a tour final.
“One big goal has been achieved and now everything else is icing on the cake,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic has won 19 straight since falling to Alcaraz in five sets in the Wimbledon final in July.
Yannick Sinner, Serenade, fans.
Earlier in the same set, Jannik Sinner defeated Stefanos Sisypas 6-4 and 6-4.
Sinner gave the fans what they wanted with some superb baseline hitting and a powerful serve. 22-year-old Sinner has won four titles in the past year, including his first 1,000-meter Masters trophy, and reached a career-high No. 4 – the first Italian to do so since Adriano Panatta nearly half a century ago.
Sina even showed off his newfound touch by hitting a backhand topspin lob on the run at the start of the second set.
Then on the first match point, Sina hit an ace in the tiebreaker to end the match in one hour and 25 minutes.
It was Sinner’s 14th indoor win on tour this year, and he has only lost one.
“The match went very, very well and the support from the crowd was overwhelming,” Sinner said.” It’s not just about progress, it’s about the finish line, and the finish line I want to reach this year is to get here.”
In the blisteringly fast Para Alps Tour event, Sinner served nine aces to Sissipas’ six and didn’t face any break points.
“His serve has really improved and he proved it today”, said Sisypas.” There’s nothing I can do about that. Sometimes I guess. His serve was very close to the baseline and the bottom corner,……. I’m not the bouncy girl behind the ball from Superheroes.
Monday’s matches in the other group include Alcaraz against Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev against Andrei Rublev.
Roundup.
Novak Djokovic broke the record to claim his eighth consecutive year-end No. 1 ranking, while Yannick Sinner beat Stefanos Sisypas in straight sets. Djokovic is now on the verge of breaking two other records: longest number of weeks at No. 1 and most ATP Finals titles. Meanwhile, Sinner is enjoying a breakthrough year as he is now the highest-ranked Italian player in nearly half a century.