The seven-time ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic will not compete in Turin next week, skipping the premium ATP event. Unlike the veteran, last year’s finalist Jannik Sinner is eager to embrace battles against the world’s best players, hoping to go a step further than 12 months ago. Asked about Novak, Jannik admitted they would miss him in Turin. However, he understood the Serb’s decision to end the season earlier. While it’s never the same without such an accomplished player, Sinner is sure we will see thrilling battles at the ATP Finals.
Novak Djokovic makes an expected decision
Novak Djokovic claimed an elusive Olympic Games gold medal in Paris in August. After completing the game of tennis, he shut down the engines and found no motivation in the season’s closing months. The 24-time Major winner competed at the US Open, Shanghai Masters, and Six Kings Slam before deciding to skip the ATP Finals and wrap up the season. It was no surprise, with Novak stating he would only chase Major titles and the Davis Cup trophy for the rest of his career.
Jannik Sinner, ATP Finals 2023© Stream screenshot
Jannik and Novak battle two times at the 2023 ATP Finals
Djokovic and Sinner embraced two encounters at last year’s ATP Finals, with the Serb scoring the more important victory. They fought in the round-robin stage, with the home favorite prevailing 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 after a thriller, earning his first victory over the greatest player of all time. Jannik prevailed after three hours and eight minutes of high-quality tennis. They used the super-fast indoor court to dominate service games, landing 35 aces and generating only six break points. Sinner claimed the opener with a late break, and they exchanged return games in the decider to send the clash down to the wire. They served well in the opening ten games of the encounter, and Novak looked good to extend that streak after moving 40-0 in front at 5-5. However, he suffered a break after a forced error and experienced a massive blow, with Jannik holding at love in game 12 for an early advantage.
Novak Djokovic, ATP Finals 2023© Stream screenshot
They stayed neck and neck in the second set and introduced a tie break. Djokovic felt the pressure but raised above it, landing a service winner at 6-5 and forcing a decider after two hours and five minutes. The young gun stepped in on the return in the sixth game, cracking a forehand crosscourt return winner for a break and a 4-2 advantage. Novak maintained his focus and pulled the break back in the seventh game after Jannik’s backhand error, returning to the positive side and interacting with the Turin crowd. The set went into a tie break, and Sinner landed a forehand crosscourt winner for 3-0. The home favorite opened a 5-0 lead and created match points. He fired a smash winner at 6-2, moving over the top and earning his first victory over Djokovic. The two rivals met again in the title clash, and Novak turned the tables! The veteran toppled the young gun 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes, lifting his seventh ATP Finals crown at 36.
Jannik Sinner, ATP Finals 2023© Stream screenshot
Struggling physically, Jannik failed to impose his strokes on the return. He could not follow the rival’s pace, wasting two break points in the only decent return game and suffering three breaks to finish runner-up. Novak lost two points on serve in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side. Sinner wasted a 40-15 lead in the fourth game and lost serve after a forced error. Djokovic produced two holds at love in games seven and nine, wrapping up the opener 6-3 in 38 minutes. Jannik did not move well, and Novak broke him at love at the beginning of the second set.
The Serb claimed 14 consecutive points and generated three break chances in the third game. The Italian saved them and held, avoiding falling two breaks behind. Sinner created his only break chances in the sixth game, and Djokovic saved them with unreturned serves. The home favorite wasted six game points in the seventh game and faced break points. He saved them and held with an ace after 15 minutes. Jannik claimed the opening two points on the return in the eighth game and reached a deuce. He missed a routine forehand that could have offered him a break chance, and Novak landed an ace to wrap up the game and open a 5-3 gap. Djokovic delivered another break in game nine after the rival’s double fault, lifting the trophy and writing history books.
Novak Djokovic, ATP Finals 2023© Stream screenshot
“Nole gave a lot to the Italian public; it’s normal that people wanted to see him play. We are very sorry he is not here in Turin, and we will miss him. That’s sport. The season is long, and you have to skip some tournaments. Even without Novak, we have eight great players in Turin, and it should be a thrilling tournament,” Jannik Sinner said.