Djokovic beats Ruud, wins sixth ATP Finals title

By Daily Sports Nigeria on November 21, 2022

Novak Djokovic beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 7-5 6-3 to collect a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title on Sunday.

Djokovic, as a result, earned the biggest paycheck ever in tennis — 4,740,300 dollars — for completing the season-ending tournament unbeaten.

Djokovic sealed victory in style with his ninth ace to collect the title for the first time since 2015 in front of a rapturous crowd.

“Got to stay focused the entire match, every single point, the momentum can switch to the other side really quickly,” the Serbian said in a televised interview after the match.

“The fact that I waited seven years makes this victory even sweeter,” he added as he matched Roger Federer’s haul of six titles in the season-ending event.

The 23-year-old Ruud enjoyed the best tennis of his career in 2022 and battled toe-to-toe with the 21-time major winner early on.

But he produced two clumsy errors to hand Djokovic the break at the end of the first set.

Djokovic put his foot on the accelerator from there on, harnessing his mighty forehand to break Ruud in the fourth game of the second set.

The Norwegian threw everything he had at the veteran in a 36-shot penultimate rally but the Wimbledon champion was simply too sharp.

He outlasted his opponent in the marathon exchange to hold his arms out wide after clinching the title.

The 35-year-old Djokovic is the oldest player to win the title and said the tournament did not leave him unscathed after a gruelling three-set thriller against Russian Daniil Medvedev en route to the semi-finals.

“It was not easy to recover and to really be able to play well in the semi-finals in less than 24 hours after that match,” he told reporters.

“It’s an internal battle with myself because there’s one voice that is always telling you ‘you can’t do it, you’re too tired, this and that’, right? The bad guy and the good guy. You try to feed the good guy.”

Djokovic ends the season on a high note after a year of ups and downs.

He was unable to defend his title at the Australian Open in January as he was deported from the country due to his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

His stance also meant he was barred from competing in the U.S. this year, including at the season’s final major — the U.S. Open.

“I look forward to having a couple of weeks off because I was really kind of on the needles an entire year, whether it was for tournaments or waiting for permissions to go somewhere.

”So, I’m really glad that I managed to end it in a positive way,” said Djokovic, who collected a seventh Wimbledon title in July.

The defeat capped a disappointing end to Ruud’s breakout year.

The Norwegian had also reached the finals at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows but came off second best.

Source Punch Ng

Posted November 21, 2022


 

You may also like...
Ronaldo Out To Smash International Goal Record

Milan Say Ibrahimovic Making Good Recovery From Calf...

Onuachu Fires Zagreb Warning With Seraing Hat-Trick

Premier League clubs unlikely to approve use of...

FA Cup 4th Round: Blues too strong for...

Manuel Pellegrini: West Ham boss urges fans not...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,140 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,267 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,349 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,990 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,930 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,877 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,717 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,287 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,331 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,034 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,488 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,915 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media