Ok, that is it from me. Tumaini Carayol’s report will be up shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Over and out.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final, Djokovic will now face the only man to have beaten him in Turin so far. Italian home favourite, Janik Sinner. Italy is a country where Djokovic usually enjoys strong support, but the final will be an exception.
Rusedski says that Sinner has a shot at victory, but it hinges on his serve: “What impressed me about Janik [in their round robin match] was usually when you get to a third set tie-breaker, Djokovic almost always wins. He made one unforced error in and that was enough for Sinner. I was so impressed with [Sinner’s] use of the drop shot and the willingness to come forward.
“Yes Djokovic is the favourite, but Sinner looks like a different player to me now. He left at 6pm, quite late to be doing your recovery but his game face was still on. He’s not here to partake, he’s here to win. [The final] has got all the ingredients to be even better than tonight'.”
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Greg Rusedski describes Djokovic as the “not just the best tennis player, but the best athlete on the planet right now”. Based on what we just saw from a 36-year-old against a high calibre player 16 years younger, it’s hard to disagree.
Djokovic speaks (translated from Italian):
Thank you so much to everyrone. My kids are here as well, they gave me motivation, trust and the power to be able to get through the battle tonight. I’m continuing to push but it’s tough for every parent when I have to leave my kids. Now they are finally here with me, so I’m super happy – we took them for two days out of school, so I hope they will not be in trouble.
I knew from the beginning this would be a match of high, high quality. We have already played against each other four times and [Alcaraz] is the most complete player I have ever played against in my life. He is so fast and does incredible things, whether in defence or attack, so it’s a big victory for me.
In the first three matches here, I have spent the most time on the court of all the semi-finalists, so it feels nice to win now in two sets. At the beginning the match, it was very intense, Carlos had a lot of break point chances. After that I started to feel much more free and more or less it was a perfect performance for me.
Game, set and match Djokovic! Djokovic 6-3 6-2 Alcaraz
Djokovic wastes no time in punching his ticket to the final. Alcaraz is broken, literally and figuratively. The Spaniard has been run ragged by his opponent and only a double fault saves Alcaraz from bowing out to a love service game. Djokovic puts the final nail in the coffin with an overhead that gives Alcaraz no chance.
Updated
Djokovic 6-3 5-2 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz is going all out now, it is win or go home time. Unfortunately for the Spaniard it may be the latter. Djokovic is all over the court and suddenly finds himself with two break points. They are both saved before a loose, slicey backhand on the move into the net gives Djokovic another chance. It takes another epic rally, but the break is made when Alacaraz fires long. Djokovic will serve for the match.
Djokovic* 6-3 4-2 Alcaraz
Are screws or tides turning at Pala Alpitour? Alcaraz has the place in raptures with not one, but two incredible points. He outlasts Djokovic in a pair of lengthy rallies – the second was 24 shots – to go up 15-30. From nowhere, the Spaniard is suddenly dialled in and earns two break points by closing out another ding dong rally with a pinpoint forehand volley. The first is saved by a strong serve, Alacaraz thinks he has the second but from literally nowhere Djokovic pulls out a stunning forehand winner and cups his ear in celebration. Turin responds in kind. Alcaraz is given no chance on the next point by an Djokovic volley on an impossible angle and an unlikely hold is earned on the next serve. Simply incredible game.
Djokovic 6-3 3-2 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz needs a hold but the guy at the other end is a wall right now. Everything is coming back with mustard on. Credit to the Spaniard, who digs in and finds big a couple of big first serves when he needs them, but then a masterful Djokovic return and an ill-timed double fault creates a break point. That fighting spirit kicks in again for Alcaraz, who muscles his way to the hold with some more big serving.
Djokovic* 6-3 3-1 Alcaraz
Unflustered and near-faultless, Djokovic is melting his man now. Even after Alcaraz steals a 0-15 lead, the world No 1 just keeps calm and forces the mistake.
Djokovic 6-3 2-1 Alcaraz*
Alcaraz is battling himself now. He dumps a simple backhand volley into the net to give Djokovic a break point but follows up with an ace to earn deuce. There is a moment of controversy as Alcaraz correctly challenges a line call with Djokovic well in the point, the Spaniard aces in the replay, but another sloppy volley and an overly agressive forehand costs him the game. Just the kind of early break that Alcaraz could ill afford, again Djokovic showing himself a master of the mental game.
Djokovic* 6-3 1-1 Alcaraz
One sloppy miss at the net from Djokovic aside, it’s another routine hold.
Djokovic 6-3 0-1 Alcaraz*
Good response from Alcaraz after the way he crumbled at the end of the first. He has Djokovic scampering around the court again, then, at 30-0, the Spaniard hits a miraculous forehand to leave his opponent splayed on the court. Another ace seals it.
Djokovic wins the first set! Djokovic 6-3 Alcaraz
All of a sudden Djokovic is in total control. Alcaraz looks bewildered at his box as Djokovic sails through a love service game. The way Djokovic grew into the set to seize control at the key moment was abolutely masterful.
Djokovic 5-3 Alcaraz*
Another ace to start for Alcaraz, his fifth, but Djokovic has his first sniff of a break with some decent returning on his forehand side to go up 15-30. A loose backhand from Alcaraz and Djokovic has what he wants… two break points. One is saved on a second serve but when Alacarz dumps a backhand down the line into the net the jig is up. Djokovic will now serve for the first set.
Updated
Djokovic* 4-3 Alcaraz
No doubt Djokovic is working harder for points on serve, but so far he seems unflustered. In the long rallies the world No 1 is playing well inside the baseline and goading Alcaraz into making risky big shots. Another mistake when lining up a forehand winner at the net denies Djokovic a perfect service game, but he wastes little time closing it out at 40-15.
Djokovic 3-3 Alcaraz*
The Alcaraz first serve has been immaculate so far, only missed in three service ames. The trajectory is very flat over the net to give Djokovic little chance to claw his way into points on the return.
Djokovic* 3-2 Alcaraz
Alcaraz gets to 0-30 quickly with some fine returning, but Djokovic responds with a couple of quirky serves to the body. Alcaraz is making the running but just when his opponent looks on the ropes at 30-30 Djokovic pins the Spaniard at the net with an arrowed backhand. Fist pumps from Djokovic as he triumphs in an epic rally at deuce, but on the very next point he blazes an easy winner long. Alcaraz really should have earned another break point when he has Djokovic on the ropes but the Serb puts up some incredible defence and earns a hard-fought game with strong first serve.
Novak is COOKING 🧑🍳@DjokerNole | #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/xPtKAbBTU3
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 18, 2023
Updated
Djokovic 2-2 Alcaraz*
Lovely forehand drop shot from Alcaraz to go 15-0 up, from there it’s a pretty straightforward service game with two aces. Interestingly, Djokovic is daring Alcaraz to keep hitting his favoured forehand and it is tactic that has won him a couple of cheap points. It is a dangerous game of risk and reward because if Alcaraz gets that going even Djokovic might be in trouble.
Djokovic* 2-1 Alcaraz
This time Djokovic does not give his opponent much of a sniff.
Djokovic 1-1 Alcaraz*
Less trouble for Alcaraz on his first serve, he races to 40-0 before Djokovic earns a couple of free points as the ball goes long, but the young Spaniard closes out with a powerful forehand.
Updated
Djokovic* 1-0 Alcaraz
Just a tasty five-minute opening salvo to start then. Alcaraz shows he has come to play, big backhand is followed up with a neat close-out volley at the net. Next up, the Spaniard fires a forehand winner to go 0-30. Big serve from Djokovic, 15-30. Another piercing backhand from Alcaraz sets up two break points. One is saved thanks to a net cord bounce then Alcaraz slumps a forehand into the net to level at deuce. Two smart serves from Djokovic earns him the first game.
It will be Djokovic to serve first.
The players are nearly done with the warmups. Action underway shortly.
Simon McMahon is a man after my own heart:
Hi Tom,
Djokovic is a strange one. He’s good at tennis, of that there’s no doubt. But not that likeable, for obvious reasons. A less well liked GOAT in any sport would be hard to find, I think. Federer too, exceptional talent, but, well, just a bit too good, if you get my drift. Nadal, a genius on clay, but well, meh. Which leaves Andy Murray, who has everything you want from a major international tennis star, except maybe the Grand Slam titles. But I’d take him any time over the other three. He’s the Lendl to their Connors, Borg and McEnroe. And I love him for it.
Murray learned how to be loved in a way unlike anyone else. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer (although to a lesser context) are liked for being great, Murray became liked for being himself.
Updated
Right, the players are making their way on to court. More like a boxing ring walk or a gladiator entry than your usual tennis offering. I’ve been to this event when it was in London and it does work well in the venue.
Here’s a reminder of when these two last met. Buy the hype on this one, trust me:
We have an email from Krishnamoorthy:
Hello Tom,
After Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal sort of went into oblivion, I have become a supporter of whoever plays against Djokovic. I am sure I am not alone.
You are not, Krishnamoorthy, but be prepared for Djokohive to give just as good they get.
When I said Alcaraz had not been in the best form, that is of course relative. He has still been producing some incredible tennis this week. This, for example…
Point of the WEEK? 😱@carlosalcaraz and Medvedev are bringing it!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/OdgZksjMpa
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 17, 2023
Preamble
With the utmost respect to home favourite Jannik Sinner this is the final, right? Even if Sinner beats the winner, this is pretty much the match to decide the title of best men’s tennis player for 2023. Novak Djokovic has won three of the four grand slams, Carlos Alcaraz beat the world No 1 to claim the other. The 36-year-old Serb has seen off the young phenom in their two other meetings this year. Djokovic outmatched Alcaraz in Paris en route to the French Open title and then clawed his way to victory in the final of the Cincinnati Masters in a classic.
They have both lost already at this ATP Finals, which is why this meeting is at the last four stage and not for the overall crown. Sinner’s win over Djokovic was a suprise, but Alcaraz’s form has not been as consistent by his own lofty standards since claiming the title at Wimbledon. The 20-year-old’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, said this week: “I think that professionally [Alcaraz] has to start learning that the world of tennis is from January to November.”
The Spaniard needs no greater example of what is required to reach the top and stay there than the man who will be on the other side of the net to him at Pala Alpitour. Nobody needs to tell Djokovic, very much still the alpha in men’s tennis, that the season runs 11 months of the calendar. Should Djokovic, who has already sewn up the end-of-year world No 1 ranking, win his next two matches he will move past Roger Federer and take solo possession of the record for ATP Finals titles with seven.
After Wimbledon it felt like Alcaraz was ready to become The Guytm, but now he has to win that battle all over again. I am hoping for fireworks.
