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Novak Djokovic captured his sixth ATP Finals title on Sunday, tying Roger Federer’s report for probably the most all-time, with a straight units victory over world No. 4 Casper Ruud. The win ended a six-year drought of ATP Finals titles for Djokovic, who defeated Ruud 7-5, 6-3 in Turin, Italy.
Djokovic final triumphed within the ATP Finals in 2015, which was then his fourth consecutive 12 months profitable the occasion — his first victory got here in 2008. With Sunday’s win, Djokovic, 35, grew to become the oldest participant to assert an ATP Finals trophy, and it additionally made him the richest: Djokovic earned a tennis-record $4.7 million payday for profitable all 5 matches in Turin.
“Seven years, it has been a very long time,” mentioned Djokovic, the primary participant to win an ATP Finals title in three completely different many years, “however on the identical time this — the truth that I waited seven years — makes this victory even sweeter and even greater.”
This wasn’t the one wait lifted for Djokovic this week. On Wednesday, the Australian authorities introduced it is going to grant a visa for Djokovic to enter the nation for the 2023 Australian Open. Djokovic missed the 2022 occasion and was deported from Australia as a result of he refused to get vaccinated towards COVID-19, a dramatic state of affairs that led to the Serbian star receiving a three-year ban from the nation. Australian immigration minister Andrew Giles mentioned he lifted the ban as a result of the grounds for his unique visa cancellation not exist.
Sunday’s win improved Djokovic’s report to 18-1 on the 12 months. Djokovic will finish the 2022 season No. 5 within the ATP prime 10, and he tied Carlos Alcaraz for probably the most ATP titles this 12 months with 5.
