Djokovic claims ‘very special’ record seventh ATP Finals crown

NOVAK DJOKOVIC emphatically gained revenge over Jannik Sinner to win a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals crown in Turin.

Five days after losing to Sinner in the group stage, Djokovic was in ruthless form from the outset as he lost just two points on serve in winning the opening set 6-3, in 38 minutes.

The world No.1 then raced into a 2-0 lead in the second before Sinner saved three break points in the third game to bring the contest to life.

Roared on by the partisan crowd, Sinner finally got to grips with the Djokovic serve and forged two break points in the sixth game, only for the Serbian to save both and maintain his advantage.

Sinner held serve in a marathon seventh game but, after Djokovic did likewise to lead 5-3, the match ended on an anticlimactic note with a Sinner double fault.

“It’s very special,” said Djokovic, who had shared the record of six titles with Roger Federer. “One of

the best seasons I’ve had in my life no doubt.

“To crown it with a win against the hometown hero Jannik, who’s played amazing tennis this week, it’s phenomenal.

“I’m very proud of the performances these last two days against [Carlos] Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and [Daniil] Medvedev at the moment.

“The way they have been playing I had to step it up, I had to win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory and that’s what I’ve done.

“I played tactically different today than in the group stages against Jannik and just overall a phenomenal week.”

Earlier, Britain’s Joe Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram had successfully defended their doubles title with victory over Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

Salisbury and Ram won 6-3, 6-4, in 69 minutes to extend their winning streak in Turin to 10 matches.

“I think we’ve got better throughout the week,” Salisbury said. “I think that was our best match, maybe along with the semifinal yesterday.

“I think we’ve served well and not got broken many times. We did that really well and managed to take the few chances we had today. I think we got a little bit of luck as well, but it seems like we get it in this place.”