Novak Djokovic won a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title when he defeated Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-3 in the Turin title match Sunday.
The Serb earned a historic $4.7m payday and matched Roger Federer’s record of six titles in the year-ending tournament for the season’s top-8 players.
ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic to be granted visa for Australian Open
Djokovic said winning a record-equalling sixth ATP Tour Finals title on Sunday was a “deeply satisfying” ending to his troubled and truncated year.
To my wife & children, family, team, sponsors, fans, everyone who stuck with me this year .. the journey has been challenging & we’ve endured a great deal together. I’m humbled by your support & grateful that it got us to this moment. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙏🏼❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/P9zQhl7O3b
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 20, 2022
“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.
Upgrade your serve with our FREE guide
The win in Turin came seven years after his last ATP Finals victory and will lift him from eighth to fifth in Monday’s new rankings.
“In my mind I always see myself as the best player in the world, of course,” he said.
ALSO READ: Corentin Moutet kicked out by French federation
“I’m not. I’m fifth. This week I probably am. Overall the rankings are showing who had the best year, and (Carlos) Alcaraz is the No 1 in the world.”
Tara in the trophy 😂#NittoATPFinals | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/K9VsuOweBZ
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 20, 2022
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 vaccne status.
ALSO READ: Stan Wawrinka tells Holger Rune to, ‘stop acting like a baby’
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.
ALSO READ: Tennis father brutally assaults 14-year-old daughter
“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.”