A rivalry that was born throughout late-round Wimbledon conferences in 2022 and 2023 hit new heights with three showdowns in fast succession on the finish of this season.
Novak Djokovic misplaced a LexusATP Head2Head assembly with Jannik Sinner for the primary time within the round-robin stage of the Nitto ATP Finals, however that was solely the start of their end-of-season battles. Learn on to relive the pair’s 4 memorable matches this season — or 5, should you embody their decisive Davis Cup doubles rubber in Malaga.
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Wimbledon SFs, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
One yr after Djokovic beat Sinner within the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals, the pair met one spherical later on the All England Membership. The Serbian produced a terrific escape to beat Sinner in 2022, preventing again from two units down, however he was in command from the start on this event.
The match was not with out its fair proportion of drama, as Djokovic saved all six break factors in opposition to him, together with two that doubled as set factors for Sinner within the third set.
“Within the semi-finals, it was all the time going to be a really tense, very shut match,” Djokovic mentioned after what was his thirty fourth consecutive Wimbledon win. “Three very shut units. I believe the scoreline perhaps doesn’t give the fact of what was occurring on the courtroom. It was tremendous shut.”
Nitto ATP Finals RR, Sinner d. Djokovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2)
Sinner scored his first win in opposition to Djokovic within the pair’s fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly, thrilling the Italian followers in Turin with a dramatic triumph.
The house favorite led for a lot of the match, together with at 4-2 within the closing set, however a decisive tie-break was required to separate the fierce rivals. Sinner, who received 9 straight factors to assert the opening set, as soon as once more discovered his greatest tennis down the stretch of the third set to assert a hard-earned victory.
“I believe I used to be actually courageous and clever in essential moments, particularly the third set,” mentioned Sinner, who produced a few of his largest floor strokes of the match underneath stress within the final-set tie-break.
“It means loads to me. If you win in opposition to the World No. 1, who has received 24 Grand Slams, it is clearly within the high [of my career results]… I felt prefer it was a extremely tactical match and I managed to win, so I am very blissful.”
Nitto ATP Finals Last, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-3
5 days later, Djokovic had his likelihood for revenge in Turin. He took it with aplomb, taking part in a near-flawless match to win his record-breaking seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown.
The Serbian served his approach to an early benefit, dropping simply two factors in his first seven service video games behind pinpoint deliveries. The World No. 1 was on the entrance foot in nearly each rally, making a concerted effort to assault and play the match on his phrases.
However the pressure arrived within the second set when Sinner, urged on by the Turin crowd, created two break factors to degree the set. Djokovic as soon as once more leaned on robust serving to flee, and he then held off one closing cost from the Italian to safe a massively satisfying title.
“To crown it with a win in opposition to a hometown hero in Jannik, who has performed superb tennis this week, is phenomenal,” Djokovic mentioned after breaking a tie with Roger Federer for many trophies on the season finale. “I believe I performed totally different tactically than I did within the group stage in opposition to Jannik, and simply general it was an exceptional week.”
Davis Cup SFs, Sinner d. Djokovic 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Extremely, there was nonetheless time for one closing twist within the 2023 rivalry between these high abilities. When Italy and Serbia each superior to set a Davis Cup semi-final showdown, the tennis world readied for an additional high-stakes showdown between the No. 1 gamers from each international locations.
Whereas the tennis on this encounter might not have hit the heights of Turin, the drama was second to none. With Serbia holding a 1-0 lead within the tie, Djokovic was getting ready to sending his crew to the ultimate when he introduced up three match factors at 4-5, 0/40 within the closing set.
However Sinner served his means out of hassle and — buoyed by his new lease on life within the competitors — received the ultimate three video games of the match to degree the tie at 1-1.
“It was a curler coaster,” Sinner mentioned. “I used to be beginning off very well. Second set he performed a lot better than me. Third set I attempted to serve very well, and in addition on match factors down I served effectively.”
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The rivals then returned to the courtroom for a decisive doubles rubber, Sinner teaming with Lorenzo Sonego and Djokovic pairing with Miomir Kecmanovic. In a pressure-packed match that included 10 mixed break factors within the second set, the Italians booked their closing place with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. They’d go on to win their first Davis Cup title since 1976 by beating Australia, with Sinner scoring the clinching level by beating Alex de Minaur within the championship spherical.
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