Novak seized it with an ace for his sixth ATP Finals title. Novak moved 30-15 up with a smash winner and earned the first match point after the longest point of the match. Ruud clinched the eighth game with a service winner, and Djokovic served for the title at 5-3. Instead, the Serb produced a hold at 30 that pushed him 5-2 up and closer to the finish line. Ruud reduced the gap in game six and hoped for at least some chances on the return. Serving well from the very beginning, Djokovic produced another fine hold in game six and built a 4-1 advantage. Novak forced Casper's mistake on the first and grabbed a break that pushed him 3-1 in front. Losing ground behind the initial shot, Ruud played a loose point at the net and faced two break points in game four. Novak held at 15 at the start of the second set and landed a volley winner for a hold at love in game three. Nonetheless, the Serb grabbed a break in the 12th game to wrap up the opener and gain a massive boost. Ruud survived games two and eight and served to introduce a tie break at 5-6. Still, he dropped five points behind the initial shot and kept the pressure on the other side.
Djokovic had the advantage in the shortest rallies up to four strokes and the more extended ones, playing rock-solid tennis from both wings and crushing the rival's pace.ĭjokovic did not look at his 100% in the opening set. He converted two out of five break chances, enough to control the scoreboard and cross the finish line. Novak dropped only 12 points behind the initial shot and kept the pressure on the other side. Still, the Norwegian will finish the season in the top-3 for the first time, setting eyes on his first big title in 2023. He went on to win it 6-4 and secure an opening-day victory in the 2022 ATP Finals.Novak Djokovic is a six-time ATP Finals champion. Ruud and Auger-Aliassime served well in the second set as well, and it looked like we'd have another tie-break before the Norwegian made the all-important break in the seventh game. A tie-break eventually decided the outcome, with Ruud winning it 7-4 to take the lead. The two players locked horns for the second time this season and the first set was tightly-contested as both were strong on serve. Third seed Casper Ruud made a great start to the year-end championship as he beat fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. Taylor Fritz could not have asked for a better start to his maiden ATP Finals campaign and will look to seal his place in the knockout stages when he takes on Casper Ruud next.Ĭasper Ruud defeats Felix Auger-Aliassime He will next face fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime with the aim of keeping his semifinal hopes alive. The King of Clay is currently on a three-match losing streak, with all of them coming against American players.
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