Novak Djokovic has already accomplished properly sufficient at holding off the rise of the so-called “Subsequent Gen” by holding gamers like Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev from successful extra titles.
Now, for the primary time on the ATP Finals, Djokovic is joined by the three gamers who’re being labeled the “Younger Gen.”
Carlos Alcaraz, 20 years previous and already a U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion, is making his debut on the season-ending match for the 12 months’s high eight gamers after lacking the occasion final 12 months with an harm.
Jannik Sinner, 22 and coming in crimson scorching after latest titles in China and Vienna, will likely be enjoying earlier than a house crowd with the Italian ranked a career-high No. 4.
READ | ATP Finals draw: Djokovic faces Sinner, Tsitsipas and Rune in group stage
Holger Rune, 20 and already with two wins over Djokovic, will renew his budding rivalry with the 24-time Grand Slam champion within the featured match when the match opens Sunday on the quick indoor court docket on the Pala Alpitour.
“Thanks for reminding me of the age — Subsequent Gen, Younger Gen — I don’t know the place I match it, through which type of gen group,” the 36-year-old Djokovic stated on Friday. “With the ability to be compete with the younger guys is all the time further motivation for me, as a result of I do know that they’re hungry and have massive targets and goals to win these sorts of tournaments. … In order that evokes me much more to play my finest tennis.”
Djokovic positive has been at his finest recently, using an 18-match successful streak stretching again to his five-set loss to Alcaraz within the Wimbledon remaining in July.
Now Djokovic wants only one extra match win to safe the year-end No. 1 rating for a record-extending eighth time.
Djokovic will likely be assembly Rune once more 9 days after overcoming the Danish participant in a virtually three-hour contest within the Paris Masters quarterfinals — which got here a 12 months after Rune beat Djokovic within the remaining of the identical match.
Not one of the 4 conferences between Djokovic and Rune have led to straight units, with the sequence tied at 2-2.
After their final match, Djokovic stated it feels a bit bit like wanting within the mirror when he faces Rune. What’s extra is that Rune now has Boris Becker — one in every of Djokovic’s former coaches — in his field.
“Our video games and our types of tennis are fairly related. We each transfer properly, defend properly. He’s a really full participant, and we each convey numerous depth and power to the court docket,” Djokovic stated. “I count on one other shut match.”
Added Rune: “The important thing phrase is preserve preventing till the tip, as a result of tennis is rarely over earlier than the final level.”
Sinner first performed within the finals two years in the past as an alternate after Matteo Berrettini was injured.
Having certified this time with weeks to spare, Sinner has develop into the match’s poster boy and has been mobbed by followers wherever he’s gone since arriving in Turin.
“Clearly it’s a giant occasion right here in Italy, being an Italian participant,” Sinner stated. “I’ll attempt to take numerous constructive power with the group. It’s going to be numerous enjoyable — I’ve to additionally take pleasure in this second. I do know what I’m able to.”
Sinner performs the match’s opening match in opposition to Tsitsipas on Sunday.
The highest two finishers from every four-man group advance to the semifinals.
Alcaraz missed final 12 months’s finals resulting from an belly harm and in addition had a brief layoff just lately resulting from a left foot harm and muscle fatigue in his decrease again.
Then Alcaraz was crushed by Roman Safiullin in straight units in his opening match on the Paris Masters.
“I’m feeling nice now. I’m 100 per cent,” Alcaraz stated. “I’m actually excited to (make) my debut right here and do it at 100 per cent.”