By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 20, 2022
Novak Djokovic’s season began with main rejection and climaxes with commanding reclamation.
A decided Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-3 within the Turin ultimate to make historical past because the oldest-ever ATP Finals champion—and equal Roger Federer’s file capturing his sixth year-end crown.
Roaring via the sector with a 5-0 file, Djokovic collected a tennis file $4,740,300 champion’s examine for his efforts.
The greatest is but to return for the previous world No. 1, says his coach, Goran Ivanisevic.
Meeting the media in Turin after his cost received his 91st profession title, together with his fifth of 2022, Ivanisevic mentioned he believes Djokovic will proceed to enhance.
Why?
Because the 21-time Grand Slam champion is working more durable than ever, owns extra weapons than the remainder of the pack and is pushed to surpass rival Rafael Nadal’s males’s main mark of twenty-two Grand Slams and attain 100 profession championships.
“He’s practicing even harder than he when he was 22. That’s why he’s still so good and that’s why he’s still going to be even better.
“The will to follow, the need to enhance, the need to be higher is superb. He’s caring for his physique. In my time we cease tennis with 30, 31. You have been already outdated man prepared to go away.
“But now unbelievable.”
It is Djokovic’s first year-end crown since 2015 and comes after a chaotic season that noticed the 35-year-old Serbian denied entry into the Australian Open and US Open, in addition to 4 Masters 1000 occasions, due to his unvaccinated standing.
To make sure, a few of Djokovic’s points have been self-inflicted—had he been vaccinated as each different participant within the AO subject, he would have been a powerful favourite to seize a tenth Australian Open title. The ready for approval to play turned out to be the hardest a part of a difficult season, mentioned Ivanisevic.
“You know, this waiting. You want to play. You just want to play, but you don’t know where you allowed to play,” Ivanisevic mentioned.
“In the end, he could finish No. 1 in the world if ATP didn’t take the points from Wimbledon. I don’t want to talk about 8,000 points that he could not even defend or be there.”
Seeing Djokovic’s need to enhance and proceed to compete has satisfied Ivanisevic the seven-time Wimbledon winner will win multiples majors within the coming years.
“Look at Novak. He’s still hungry, he’s still winning the tournament, playing unbelievable tennis,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “He’s still already thinking now about preparation for next season.
“Till he is like that, in his thoughts he will be all the time aggressive, favourite to win majors and massive tournaments.”
Photo credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty