Djokovic, tatapusin ang taon sa pagiging No. 1
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the first set after a tiebreak during day one of the Nitto ATP Finals at Pala Alpitour on November 12, 2023 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) CLIVE BRUNSKILL / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP
Tatapusin ni Novak Djokovic ang taon bilang world number one sa record-extending na ikawalong beses, makaraang talunin si Holger Rune ng Denmark sa score na 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 sa kaniyang opening match sa ATP Finals.
Kailangan lamang talunin ng 24-time Grand Slam champion ang mas bata niyang karibal na si Carlos Alcarza, at daigin ang Rune sa isang tatlong oras na Green Group clash, upang makuha ang No. 1 spot sa ATP rankings para sa 2023.
Si Djokovic ay nanalo na ng tatlong Slams upang maging all-time record winner ng major titles.
Nakapasok ang 36-anyos sa Finals sa Turin sa likod ng kanyang ikapitong panalo sa Paris Masters, ang kanyang ika-40 tagumpay sa Masters 100 event.
Ito ay dalawang karagdagang record sa isang mahaba at lumalawak na listahan para kay Djokovic, na target ang ika-pitong titulo sa Finals na magiging daan upang maunugusan niya ang mahusay na si Roger Federer na retirado na.
Ayon kay Djokovic, “It means a lot. You could see that there were a lot of emotions on the court. I could feel it, I was very eager to win the match and get that monkey off my back… Obviously a big objective, a big goal has been achieved, everything else now is a bonus.”
Tungkol naman sa naging laban niya kay Rune sy sinabi ni Djokovic, “I found a way to win against an opponent who played brilliantly… he had a lot of courage. If I want to keep up with these youngsters I’m going to have to work even harder!”
