Novak Djokovic opened his campaign at the Nitto ATP Finals with a hard‑fought victory over Holger Rune. The match lasted just over three hours as Djokovic secured a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-3 win to claim the top ranking for the eighth time in his career, a mark that now stands at 409 weeks. The 20‑year‑old Dane challenged the Serb throughout, pushing him to the limit before Djokovic prevailed.
The moment carried a deep sense of significance for Djokovic. He reflected that a single win in this event was all he needed to fulfill his goal, and he preferred to seize the opportunity in one sweep rather than risk prolonging the chase. The victory also redressed a recent booking of tough matches against Alcaraz, who later faced Zverev in a separate session. The Spaniard, who arrived in Turin with his own hopes and questions about form, watched as the day’s events unfolded from the hotel as the tournament margin began to close in on his own aspirations.
A look at year-end No. 1 finishes confirms Djokovic’s consistency, alongside a remarkable line of predecessors. Djokovic has finished the year at No. 1 on eight occasions, followed by Sampras with six, Federer and Nadal with five each, and Connors also at five. The image circulating on social media captured the crowd’s appreciation for Djokovic’s sustained excellence.
The victory over Rune also continued Djokovic’s strong record at the Masters events. Although he had previously struggled to capture a win at the Shanghai Masters in 2007, Djokovic has since rewritten the book, tallying multiple titles that underline his enduring greatness across the Masters circuit. The day’s excitement remained high as fans watched the players’ readiness for the remaining rounds of the tournament.
Further highlights arrived with a dramatic early exchange in the opening game, where Djokovic clinched the deciding tiebreak and posted his second win over Rune since Paris. Rune, trained hard under a coaching mindset rooted in clear, aggressive tactics, delivered powerful serves and relentless pressure but could not deny Djokovic two decisive breaks in the match’s critical moments. The Serb endured the late pressure and converted a crucial break in the final set to seal the match and move closer to securing year-end top spot.
Carlitos’ first appearance
The attention then turned to Carlos Alcaraz, the rising talent from Murcia who hoped to make his mark in Turin. He faced an abdominal issue that forced him to miss the Alpitour pavilion for the earlier rounds, and his participation in the event was tempered by the setback. Against Rune, the Spaniard achieved a 6-3 first set and held a 3-1 advantage in the second before the match moved beyond his control due to the injury concerns.
Images captured Alcaraz warming up alongside Djokovic during a practice session, underscoring the healthy competition among the world’s top players. The Spaniard expressed an optimistic view about the experience in Turin, acknowledging the significance of competing at this level even when his form had not reached its peak in recent events. He emphasized the importance of continuing to learn and adapt as the season concludes, aiming to reclaim top ranking status in the near future.
In another development, Alcaraz discussed his year-end goals and how the race for No. 1 shapes his approach. While acknowledging the difficulty of the task, he remained focused on maximizing opportunities in the final events of the year and maintaining mental strength through the inevitable ups and downs of a grueling schedule.
The day’s schedule also featured Jannik Sinner overcoming Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. The Italian leaned on home support to pressure the Greek, striking early in the second set and maintaining momentum to secure a 6-4 victory. Sinner is set to meet Djokovic later in the week, with Tsitsipas slated to play Rune in an afternoon session.
Granollers and Zeballos land a win
In doubles action Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos opened their campaign with a convincing victory over Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. They split the opening set before rallying for a 10-7 win in the Match Tie-break second stage. The veteran Catalan participant is appearing at the Nitto ATP Finals for the eighth time, having previously claimed the championship in 2012.