Atp Finals, Djokovic beats Ruud 2-0 and wins the 6th title

The eye of the tiger, the grit of the champion, the flicker of the phenomenon. Novak Djokovic’s recipe always works, beating Ruud 7-5 6-3 and conquering the Nitto ATP Finals for the sixth time. And while Roger Federer enjoys his retirement life playing with the children in Tokyo, the Serbian equals it by becoming the oldest man to lift the year-end trophy reserved for “Masters”. The best way to end a 2022 that started very badly, with the expulsion from the Australian territory where he had entered to play the Australian open with a medical exemption from the covid recovered. The Serbian, not vaccinated, had also had to miss the US Open and all the American Masters 1000 with the only joy of winning at Wimbledon but without points. This time there are 1500 points, which take him to number 5 in the ranking at the gates of 2023 in which he is ready to return to number 1, the place he feels he deserves and now occupied by 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. Casper Ruud confirms a pinch of weakness when it comes to playing for the most important trophies, beaten in the final at Roland Garros by Rafa Nadal and at the Us Open by the Spanish teenager, even in Turin he had to give up at the climax. He celebrates the team with coach Ivanisevic, celebrates his wife Jelena with the two children who have not missed even a match of the undefeated father. Zlatan Ibrahimovic also applauds, a great friend of the champion who supports Milan.

The match

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Djokovic starts serving and immediately attacks Ruud in the next game. He has two break points, the Norwegian manages to take the lead and with four consecutive points he holds the serve: 1-1. More dangers for the Norwegian in the eighth game: he lets himself be reached at 30-30 then, in order not to hit a backhand, he launches into an unfortunate forehand volley that ends wide. Break point for Djokovic. Ruud cancels with an ace and saves himself with three consecutive points. In the 11th game Ruud serves to earn the tie break, but it is always Nole who pushes, commands the exchanges, envelops him in his web and finally conquers the 1st set 7-5. In the second set Djokovic continues to do what he wants, and in the 4th game he gets the break to lead 3-1. Stefan and Tara, the little Djokovic, jump and scream in the stands, Ruud looks at his desolate box looking for a solution. That won’t come. Nole goes to serve for the match and lets himself reach 30-30, a little thrill. A grueling exchange, and of course he wins. The teacher.