Djokovic rallies for win in season-ending ATP

Novak Djokovic, who has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking, rallied to beat Dominic Thiem 6-7 (10), 6-0, 6-2 Sunday in his opening match at the season-ending ATP finals.

LONDON >> Novak Djokovic survived an early setback, and then made it look all too easy.

The second-ranked Serb, who has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking at the O2 Arena next weekend, rallied to beat Dominic Thiem 6-7 (10), 6-0, 6-2 Sunday in his opening match at the season-ending ATP finals.

Djokovic won nine of 10 games to take control of the match after losing the first set in a tiebreaker. And even that was close.

“Yeah, a thrilling tiebreaker,” Djokovic said. “I had, I think, only one set point. He just played a good point. I was in the rally, but he just was going for his shots.”

Thiem had his first three set points at 6-3 in the tiebreaker, but he double-faulted twice and then put a backhand into the net to make it 6-6.

Djokovic had a chance, too, leading 9-8. But he couldn’t close it out with Thiem serving, eventually hitting a backhand long.