Novak Djokovic capped off 2023 the same way he started it – by shattering more tennis records. The world No. 1 cemented another historic feat on Sunday by capturing a record seventh ATP Finals championship. Djokovic efficiently defeated home favorite Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in under two hours for the title. However, their first meeting in this tournament not only had a different outcome but also created a huge record.

In defeating tennis legend Novak Djokovic at the group stage of the ATP Finals, Jannik Sinner delivered a sensational performance that captivated Italy. The performance was followed by a revelation of a new 6.6 million worthy record.

Captivating showdown by Jannik Sinner over Novak Djokovic

The thrilling ATP Finals round-robin match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic last week broke Italian tennis viewership records. Over 6.6 million people tuned in to watch the tight three-set battle, capturing the nation’s imagination.

In their first-ever meeting at the ATP Finals, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner were extremely well-matched. Both aggressively attacked early in rallies and moved forward when possible. Djokovic hit more winners and excelled at net, but made critical errors in big moments during the tight first and third sets.

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After this historic match, Novak Djokovic said, “In the important points, he was going for it, he was more courageous.” He then continued to add, “I wasn’t aggressive enough, I wasn’t decisive enough. I gave him the opportunity to take the control over the points.”

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Trailing in the third set, Jannik Sinner relied on his aggressive groundstrokes to save match points and force the decisive tiebreak. Fighting off nerves, he played clutch tennis to score the hard-fought victory. As the Italian crowd cheered for Sinner, the new viewership record is more than just overwhelming numbers.

Jannik Sinner grows stronger with Italy’s rising interest in tennis

This record viewership underscores tennis’ growing popularity in Italy, as local stars like Sinner and Matteo Berrettini thrive. Just this year, Berrettini became the first Italian man to play a Wimbledon final. However, when it comes to Jannik Sinner, there are a lot of things he has achieved in this very year.

The 22-year-old Sinner has notched many career firsts in 2023 – his first Slam semi-final, Masters title, Top 5 ranking, and wins over Medvedev and Djokovic. As the Italian crowd gets more invested in tennis, fans can be assured that Sinner will keep flying higher. However, after the finals of the ATP Finals, it is clear that Sinner will have to work harder to be able to consistently defeat Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic has quite visibly learned from this loss, much like he did after Wimbledon against Alcaraz. By being crowned as the ATP Finals champion for the seventh time, that too against Jannik Sinner, who defeated him in the group stage, Djokovic has showcased his fierce comeback skills yet again. Will Jannik Sinner be able to pull off a similar comeback? What are your thoughts? Do comment below.

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