- Novak Djokovic beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 7-5 6-3 to earn a record-equaling sixth ATP Finals title on Sunday.
With victory over Casper Ruud, Djokovic earned the biggest paycheck ever in tennis history, 4.7 million dollars — for completing the last tournament of the season unbeaten.
“Got to stay focused the entire match, every single point, the momentum can switch to the other side really quickly,” the Serbian said in an interview after the match. “The fact that I waited seven years makes this victory even sweeter,”
Djokovic added as he matched Roger Federer’s haul of six titles in the season-ending event.
READ ALSO – WORLD CUP GUIDE I
Ruud saved two break points in his first service game of the opening set to hold, but it set the tone for the match, with the Norwegian regularly forced onto the back foot. Djokovic had to be patient to earn the breakthrough in the first set, he missed another break point in game eight but continued to give very little away on serve, and a pair of winners saw him bring up a fourth chance to break in the 12th game of a tight first set. Ruud sent a backhand long to hand the Serbian the first set, and a galvanized Djokovic then broke for a 3-1 lead in the second set to leave Ruud with a mountain to climb.
The winners then came in abundance for Djokovic, who racked up eight in his next three games to suffocate any hopes of a Ruud fightback on center court. After bringing up championship point, Djokovic hit one final ace – his ninth and final one of the day – down the T to seal victory to write a couple more chapters in the history books.
