22:14
Djokovic – Sinner 5:7, 1:0
Djokovic is successful again with serve and volley. The forehand volley is played so brilliantly that Sinner quickly interrupts his running path. A forehand return error from the Italian puts a lid on the Serbian’s first win of the game.
22:13
Djokovic – Sinner 5:7, 0:0
With the score at 15:15, Sinner tries a lob. However, Djokovic makes short work of it, jumps up at the net and leaves no room for doubt when hitting the ball.
22:12
Conclusion sentence one
After everything looked like a fast, even game at the beginning, the first set developed enormously. There aren’t many long rallies, i.e. over nine shots, but both allowed break points against them. Both are also close in terms of statistics, so only nuances really decided who won the set. Sinner was a little braver towards the end and managed to get into the Serb’s head. It remains very exciting to see whether the 22-year-old can carry this momentum into the second set or whether Djokovic hits back immediately.
22:09
Djokovic – Sinner 5:7
And Sinner also scores the eighth point in a row. There are three match points for the Italian. The first serve flies just out of bounds, but Sinner can also do a lot of damage with the second. Djokovic then underestimates Sinner’s forehand, falls off balance and the ball remains on his own side. That makes it a total of nine points for the local hero, who actually takes the first set without a tiebreak!
22:07
Djokovic – Sinner 5:6
Sinner recognizes that Novak Djokovic is on the defensive and steps up. The volley flies into the Serb’s corner, but is played so well that the lob ends up sliding out of the field, 30-0 from Sinner’s point of view.
22:06
Djokovic – Sinner 5:6
Can Sinner confirm the break and take the first set? He can withstand the Serbian’s baseline punches. Not only that! He even throws his opponent off balance so that his forehand lands cross into the net.
10:05 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 5:6
Pressure for Sinner? He doesn’t seem to know it. He smashes the return cross right into the corner and follows up with his forehand again in the same corner. Djokovic stretches, but can no longer do anything. After 40:0, Jannik Sinner brings five points to his side and only needs one step to win the first set.
22:03
Djokovic – Sinner 5:5
In this phase, Djokovic’s first serve weakens slightly. And not only that! The world number one produces the first double fault of the game, which also means a break ball.
22:02
Djokovic – Sinner 5:5
Played well! Sinner remains brave and opts for the forehand inside-out again. As a result, the Serb can only play back a high ball and Sinner works his way to equalize. Is there still a possible break?
22:01
Djokovic – Sinner 5:5
After three quick points in a row, including ace number six, Jannik Sinner hits his backhand right on the baseline. Djokovic was on the way forward and can no longer do anything. The Serb also dares to take a step forward in the next rally. This time he is passed by Sinner’s backhand longline, 40:30.
9:57 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 5:5
The world number one leaves a little something behind in this phase of the game. Two unforced errors later, Sinner has the equalizer on his bat. The serve flies through the middle for a service winner. Both are heading purposefully towards the tiebreak.
9:55 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 5:4
That hurts! Djokovic expects Sinner’s crossball to his forehand and is ready. In fact, Sinner is looking at exactly this corner. Djokovic creates his forehand to take a 30:15 lead. Is there a preliminary decision in sentence one?
9:54 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 5:4
Jannik Sinner is now fighting against losing the set. The outward serve doesn’t turn into an ace, but Djokovic’s forehand return doesn’t clear the net.
9:52 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 5:4
The serve through the middle lands again on Sinner’s forehand. He pushes the ball into the net and once again there is a zero-zero service game.
9:51 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 4:4
Djokovic follows suit with another ace. There are now five aces for the Serbian and six for the Italian. In addition, Djokovic’s rate of first serves is just under 73%.
9:49 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 4:4
Djokovic takes full risk with his forehand cross return and is not rewarded for it. The ball lands just but clearly in touch.
9:48 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 4:3
After two quick points for Sinner, the Italian moves his forehand behind the baseline. But he won’t care about that, because with the serve to the outside on the advantage side he books the next ace to make it 40:15 from his point of view.
9:45 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 4:3
The Serb doesn’t let anything go wrong. He gains the advantage with a calm and tactically clever volley against the advanced Sinner. A strong first serve secures him the lead.
9:42 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:3
The serve goes through the middle, i.e. onto Sinner’s forehand. The forehand tends to be the weaker shot for the Italian. Here too, Novak Djokovic is right, because a frame hit destroys all hopes of a break.
9:41 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:3
There is the first break chance for the challenger. Sinner chooses the right corners twice again and in the end it is the 36-year-old who becomes too hectic.
9:40 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:3
The second point is immediately followed by the third! But anyone who knows Djokovic knows that he won’t let the deficit sit for long. He decides at the right moment for the forehand longline and puts Sinner in enormous trouble, 30:30.
9:39 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:3
Djokovic opens the court with his serve outwards in order to then place his backhand in the free corner. Sinner is quick on his feet, but his backhand cross gets caught in the net. What follows is one of the few slight mistakes made by the new and old number one in the world. Djokovic wants to play the backhand cross too precisely and misses the field. It is the second point for Sinner when Djokovic serves.
9:37 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:3
Jannik Sinner shows strong nerves! With the fifth ace he suddenly equalizes the breakball against him. And not only that! He fights for the advantage and grabs the next forehand stop. This time he senses the Serb’s crossball early. The backhand flies longline to the winner and everything stays in line.
9:35 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:2
That does not exist! The world number one picks up the pace with his forehand cross. Sinner goes longline out of nowhere to stop forehand, but Djokovic is wide awake. In the marnier of a champion, he digs up the ball and puts his volley briefly cross onto the sideline. There is the first break ball.
9:34 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:2
With a successful first serve, Sinner gets the game ball. Then it’s Novak Djokovic’s turn again. He dictates the balls from the baseline and lets Sinner run until he deflects his forehand into the double court. For the first time this evening it’s about debut.
9:32 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:2
Nevertheless, it will be tight again. The return from the 36-year-old lands at Sinner’s feet, so that he bends his forehand back. When the score is 30:30, the decision is made: is there the first break ball or is the game ball for the local hero?
9:30 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:2
After a quick point for Djokovic, Sinner gets the first point from a rally. The Serb’s slow backhand slice gives Sinner enough time to position himself perfectly to the ball. He circles the backhand and pulls his forehand inside-out at an acute angle, 15:15.
9:27 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 3:2
The slice serve to the outside gives him a 3-2 lead in the first set. Both have already served four aces in this early phase of the game. So your arms are running!
9:26 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 2:2
After the first point went to Sinner, Djokovic decided to serve and volley on the second serve. He closes the longline side and can intercept Sinner’s counterattack. Ace number three follows, again on the outside.
9:24 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 2:2
Nevertheless, the Italian doesn’t let that bother him. His second serve is sharp enough to ideally set up the game win.
9:23 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 2:1
After an incredible three aces in a row, the first rally actually takes place. Djokovic takes the balls very early and can put the balls very close to the baseline. This forces Sinner to make a mistake with his forehand. From Sinner’s point of view, a similar picture emerges in the following rally at 40:30.
9:19 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 2:1
Will we see three nil service games right at the start? The answer is a resounding yes! We’ve been waiting in vain for long rallies so far. Djokovic puts another ace to the outside and then hits a service winner.
9:17 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 1:1
How does Sinner get into this match? Two return errors from Djokovic and a backhand cross into the net set up another flawless service game. Sinner then puts his first ace to the outside and draws the score to 1:1 in the first set.
9:13 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 1:0
Without letting anything burn, the Serb pushes the first ace and gets his service game to zero. He got off to a perfect start.
9:12 p.m
Djokovic – Sinner 0:0
Dinner is served! Novak Djokovic has the first word and starts with a serve through the middle that Sinner can no longer bring back under control. The backhand return then shoots into the net to make it 30-0.
9:06 p.m
Players are there
The players arrived on the pitch right on time. Novak Djokovic gives Sinner the choice in the coin toss. The Italian wins this and decides to return. Djokovic will start the game with his own service after the short warm-up.
20:51
Djokovic as the top favorite
On the other side, Novak Djokovic, the defending champion and six-time ATP Finals champion, awaits. The Serb will definitely end the year as number one in the world. If these aren’t the best conditions to be considered a top favorite in this year’s finals. In his first game against Holger Rune, Djokovic found it quite difficult. The 36-year-old won the first tiebreak, the second went to the young Dane. It was only in the third set that Djokovic was able to break away. The next difficult task awaits Jannik Sinner.
20:42
Local hero in impressive form
On the one hand there is Jannik Sinner, the local hero. He will surely be favored by the audience this evening. The 22-year-old has not yet won the Nitto ATP Finals, but in 2019 he was crowned ATP Next-Gen Champion. Sinner also opened this year’s finals with his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Italian didn’t give his opponent the slightest chance and emerged victorious 6:4 and 6:4. Tsitsipas was particularly powerless against the improved serving qualities. Tsitsipas himself was unable to finish his second game today. After three games, the Greek had to give up against Holger Rune due to injury.
8:32 p.m
Welcome
Good evening and welcome to the night session at the ATP Finals. The two winners from the first round meet in the Green Group. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are expected on Center Court at 9 p.m.