Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, we’re diving into some major news that’s got the tennis world buzzing: Novak Djokovic’s decision to skip the ATP Finals in Turin.
Novak Djokovic, the seven-time ATP Finals champion, has announced that he won’t be competing in Turin next week. This decision comes after a remarkable season that included winning an elusive Olympic Games gold medal in Paris. The 24-time Major winner has stated he’ll only focus on Major titles and the Davis Cup trophy for the rest of his career. It’s no surprise he’d want to end the season on a high note, but it’s always sad to see such an accomplished player miss out on what promises to be an exciting event.
Despite Djokovic’s absence, last year’s finalist Jannik Sinner is eager to take on the world’s best players. Sinner admitted they would miss Djokovic in Turin but understood his decision to end the season earlier. “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,” Sinner said.
The rivalry between Djokovic and Sinner has been intense. Last year’s ATP Finals saw them face off twice, with Djokovic securing the more important victory in the title clash. Their first encounter was a thriller, with Djokovic prevailing 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 after three hours and eight minutes of high-quality tennis. Sinner claimed the opener with a late break but couldn’t follow up in the decider, where Djokovic raised his game to force a tiebreaker and ultimately win.
In their second match-up for the title, Djokovic turned the tables, defeating Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes. This victory marked Djokovic’s seventh ATP Finals crown at 36 years old. Despite struggling physically, Sinner failed to impose his strokes on the return and couldn’t keep up with Djokovic’s pace.
The upcoming ATP Finals promises to be just as exciting without Djokovic. With eight top players set to compete, including Sinner, it’s going to be an epic battle for the title. The super-fast indoor court will surely dominate service games, generating plenty of break points and potentially thrilling comebacks.
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