ATP Finals: Djokovic defeated! Strong Alexander Zverev wins the ATP Finals

Alexander Zverev celebrated his greatest victory thanks to a sensationally strong performance: In the final of the ATP Finals he beat the world number one Novak Djokovic 6:4, 6:3.

By Florian Goosmann from London

How in the world can you manage this Novak Djokovic? Not only the team around Alexander Zverev asked themselves this question – especially since Djokovic won against Zverev on Wednesday with a relaxed 6:4, 6:1. The German had broken in here after a good start and seemed ready for a holiday.

But Zverev had fought his way back and impressed in his games against John Isner and Roger Federer especially with the serve and the forehand. However, serves are also the specialty of the “Djoker”, in both respects. He is regarded as the strongest return player of all time and the serve itself was a real weapon this week: he had played 36 service games, did not catch a break and only allowed two break chances.

The good news at the beginning of the game: Zverev was warmly welcomed after the boo calls at the farewell after the Federer match. The ball flew over the net 29 times in the second rally, but this remained the exception, especially in the first set. Djokovic and Zverev also started their finals with a strong serve and dictated with the forehand.

Djokovic had his first drop-out: At 4:4 Zverev had his first break chance of the match, Djokovic put a light forehand into the net after a good first service. And the hamburger stayed cool: Five first serves for four points to win the set followed. Zverev’s mad quota: 21 of his 24 first serves were in the first set (88 percent!), 18 times he scored the point.

Wimbledon- and US Open-Champ Djokovic seemed to be knocked on and made five easy mistakes at the beginning of set two, Zverev used his second chance with a courageous forehand to the early break.

Although he caught the rebreak – also thanks to two double faults – in the direct countermove, Djokovic did not take the momentum and Zverev took his serve away from him again. This time he confirmed Zverev’s interim problem at 3:1: The serve was hooked (in the middle of the set the rate at the first service was only 40 percent), but Djokovic’s error rate in the baseline duels remained unusually high.

Zverev remained cold like a dog’s snout towards the end, served himself well for 5-3, while Djokovic became hectic and did not seem to believe in a comeback anymore. He fended off one match ball, the second one Zverev used with a backhand pass to a sensational victory.

“Actually, you can win any match you want. I appreciate you letting me win today,” ulkte Zverev said at the award ceremony in the direction of Djokovic, whom he congratulated on his crazy season. Djokovic has won 35 matches since the Wimbledon tournament – and lost only 3 today. With a gigantic bottle of champagne in his hand, Zverev added: “I didn’t really want to get drunk yet.”

For the 21-year-old from Hamburg, the 2018 season ends with the greatest success of his career – and the first German World Championship victory since Boris Becker in 1995.

Djokovic, on the other hand, will have to wait at least one season for his sixth triumph at the end-of-year tournament. “You played so much better today than in the group match. You have a great career ahead of you,” he praised Zverev.