Novak-ATP
Djokovic becomes the first player to qualify for ATP Finals
Turin/UNI: Novak Djokovic on Monday became the first singles player to qualify for the 2021 ATP finals after he clinched his sixth Wimbledon and a record-20th Grand Slam title levelling up to the feat earlier achieved by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic defeated Italy's Matteo Berrettini 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the final on Sunday to seal a sixth Wimbledon title and qualify for the ATP Finals, to be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from November 14-21.
The world number one secured his 14th qualification for the season finale by winning his third straight major crown of 2021.
In Turin, Djokovic will be attempting to win the season finale for the sixth time, which would see him equal Federer’s record at the elite event.
"I am happy to have qualified for Turin so early," Djokovic said in a statement.
"Italian fans are very much into tennis so I am sure it will be a great event with a fantastic atmosphere," he added.
The 34-year-old Djokovic has competed at the ATP Finals between2007-2016 and 2018-2020. He lifted the trophy in 2008, when the event was held in Shanghai, then over four consecutive years between 2012 and 2015 in London.
Djokovic, who did not qualify in 2017 after suffering a right elbow injury, has compiled a 38-16 record at the prestigious tournament.
The Serbian is also on course to finish 2021 as year-end No 1 in the ATP Rankings for a record-breaking seventh time - eclipsing Pete Sampras (1993-1998) - after a historic season, which includes winning the first three Grand Slam championships of the year, in addition to winning the Belgrade Open title in May.
He has won 34 of 37 matches this year and on March 8, Djokovic moved past Federer with 311 weeks at World No 1. To date, he has sat at the summit of men’s professional tennis for 329 weeks.
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2019 ATP Finals champion, is next in line to qualify in the second position for the Turin event, followed by local favourite Berrettini.
Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner all feature in the 'Top 12' with four months remaining in the regular ATP Tour season.
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