Novak Djokovic can already look back on an outstanding tennis year 2018. At the ATP finals in London, however, the 31-year-old wants to attack once again and crown his already outstanding season.
When Novak Djokovic entered London’s O2 Arena on Sunday afternoon to collect the trophy for first place at the end of the year, he could be proud. The pride of his great comeback. The pride that, contrary to expectations, he will end the year as the industry leader. The pride of showing it to all critics. Once again.
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The 31-year-old had crashed to 22nd place in the world rankings, and one inexplicable defeat followed the next. He would never reach his old performance level again, they said. Djokovic is too thin anyway and doesn’t have the strength and endurance to win another Grand Slam tournament.
All this is now about half a year ago. Since then, a lot has changed in men’s tennis: With sensational runs in Wimbledon and New York Djokovic won the major titles 13 and 14, the triumph in Cincinnati and the associated win of the “Career Golden Masters” was almost forgotten because of the Grand Slam successes.
Meanwhile “Nole” is again at the top of the ATP world ranking list. And he will end the year there after Rafael Nadal’s cancellation for the final tournament in London. “After the elbow surgery in February, it seemed unlikely that I would end the year as number one. But there was always a part of me that believed in it. I never thought it was impossible,” says Djokovic.
It is this irrepressible belief in oneself that makes the Serb greet again from above. Already for the fifth time Djokovic will overwinter as number one. So he’s one of only four players, along with Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, who did the trick. But the “Djoker” isn’t full yet.
“To be at the top of the ranking is the ultimate challenge alongside the Grand Slam tournaments and the ATP finals,” says the man from Belgrade. Anyone who knows Djokovic knows that he loves a challenge. Anything but another triumph in London would be a disappointment for the five-time champion of the year-end tournament.
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In the group “Guga Kuerten”, the top favourite on the title plays first against John Isner, then the German Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic are waiting for the father of two families, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic. In the run-up to the tournament, Djokovic once sent a declaration of war to the competition: “I had great success in London and love playing here”. His opponents should be warned.