Novak wins in Turin to end year on a high

A TOUR season that started in embarrassing chaos ended in triumph for Novak Djokovic after he clinched the ATP Finals title. The 35-year-old Serb defeated Norwegian Casper Ruud in the singles final in Turin, while in the doubles Joe Salisbury became the first British player to win the secondary event at the year-end championships. ‘It’s deeply satisfying but also a big relief after what’s happened this year,’ Djokovic said after a 7-5, 6-3 win, which saw him level Roger Federer’s record of six ATP Finals titles.

He finishes the ATP year at world No 5, a remarkable achievement given that there were no ranking points when he lifted the trophy at Wimbledon.

He only played 11 tournaments in all, having been barred from Melbourne and from playing in the USA due to his Covid vaccine refusal. With Australia rescinding its three-year entry ban, he will be favourite to win a tenth Grand Slam title there in January. The hold he continues to have over other players showed in the way Ruud never looked like believing he could win, despite Djokovic (left) looking weary and physically shaky in the first set. Londoner Salisbury had earlier secured the biggest paycheque of his career — £390,000 — when he and partner Rajeev Ram beat Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 7-6, 6-4.

After a fine display of serving from the Anglo-American duo, Ram said his team-mate played ‘out of this world’. Salisbury added: ‘That’s probably up there with the best matches we have ever played.’