Novak Djokovic Aims for Record Eighth ATP Year-End No. 1 Title
Turin, Italy – Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis superstar, has set his sights on a major goal at the Nitto ATP Finals: finishing as the ATP Year-End No. 1 for an unprecedented eighth time.
In an interview with ATP Media on Friday in Turin, Djokovic expressed his determination to end the season as the top-ranked player in the world. “For me, the biggest goal right now is to end the season as the No. 1 player in the world, so hopefully I can clinch it. I need one win, so hopefully that happens,” Djokovic stated. He also expressed his desire to win the tournament, but emphasized that securing the year-end No. 1 ranking is his primary objective.
If Djokovic wins just one match or if Carlos Alcaraz loses one match at the season finale, the Serbian will earn the prestigious honor in the sport. Djokovic last finished the year-end as No. 1 in 2021.
Djokovic will have the opportunity to control his own fate on Sunday evening when he begins his tournament against Holger Rune. The two players faced off just one week ago in the Rolex Paris Masters, where Djokovic emerged victorious after an intense quarter-final match lasting nearly three hours.
Speaking about his upcoming match against Rune, Djokovic acknowledged the young player’s potential. “Holger has his debut in the [Nitto ATP] Finals. Obviously, along with Carlos Alcaraz, they are the same generation, one of the leaders of the Next Gen and probably one of the players that will carry tennis in the decade to come,” Djokovic said. He also mentioned that every time they have played against each other, it has been a close match, indicating that he expects another challenging encounter.
Djokovic draws confidence from his previous success at the Pala Alpitour, where he won the Nitto ATP Finals trophy for the first time last year. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic said, “I had the perfect score. Most of my matches, four out of five, I won in straight sets.” He also highlighted the unique conditions in Torino, with an altitude of almost 300 meters, which affects the ball’s flight and requires some adjustment.
Excited to be part of the event again, Djokovic expressed his enthusiasm for performing in front of passionate Italian fans who have a deep love for tennis. He acknowledged the tradition of the Nitto ATP Finals being played in Torino and the country’s overall passion for the sport.
While Djokovic has achieved numerous records and broken many others, he revealed that his greatest motivation comes from his love for competing and the sport itself. “Even if I leave professional tennis now and reflect on everything I’ve done, I can be extremely, extremely satisfied. So I don’t have pressure to keep on competing, but I still have the desire and the level,” Djokovic explained. He emphasized his aspiration to create his own history and leave a lasting impact on the sport.
This week in Turin, Djokovic will lead the Green Group alongside Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune. He expressed his honor to be part of the Nitto ATP Finals, considering it the pinnacle of the ATP Tour. Djokovic highlighted the privilege of competing against the best players in the world and the unique group format of the tournament, which allows players to still qualify for the semifinals even after losing a match.
As Djokovic embarks on his quest for an eighth ATP Year-End No. 1 title, he understands the importance of performing at his best in every match, as the level of competition in the tournament is equivalent to the finals of the prestigious Masters 1000 events.