Novak Djokovic will fight for his sixth ATP Finals crown against Casper Ruud. The Serb will compete in his eighth final at the premium ATP event, hoping to match Roger Federer’s record and finish the season on a high note.
Novak has had some thrilling victories at the ATP Finals over the years and some painful losses. Asked about his hardest moment at this event, Novak picked his 2016 title match loss to Andy Murray, losing the crown and the year-end no.
1 spot. Murray and Djokovic were fearsome rivals that season, and it all came to the ATP Finals title clash. Andy played better in front of the home fans in London and scored a 6-3, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 43 minutes for his first and only ATP Finals trophy.
Murray made fewer errors and controlled the points more efficiently than Djokovic, who counted 30 unforced errors. The Briton lost serve once from the only chance offered to the Serb and created nine break chances. Andy converted three and stayed in front since the middle of the opening set to claim his last notable ATP title.
It was the first indoor victory for Murray over Djokovic and his third triumph over the Serb in the previous 16 encounters. Andy played two three and a half hours marathons to reach the final, preserving enough energy and beating Novak in one of the most significant matches of the season.
Both players hit 13 winners, and Djokovic ruined his chances with those 30 unforced mistakes. Andy had a slight edge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes (31-27), and there was nothing to separate them in the mid-range exchanges, with 19 points for each.
Murray won four points more in the most advanced rallies to cement his victory. Novak held at love twice at the start of the match, and Andy followed that pace for a strong start. A four-time champion experienced problems in game six, fending off two break points and bringing the game home after four deuces for 3-3.
Novak Djokovic lost to Andy Murray in the 2016 ATP Finals title match.
Andy grabbed the first break in game eight to forge a 5-3 advantage and held in the rest one to wrap up the opener and gain a boost. Murray delivered an early advantage in the second set after seizing the fourth break chance in the first game.
The Briton served well and kept the pressure on the other side, hoping for more return chances. They came in game five when he delivered another break and forged a 6-3, 4-1 advantage. With no room for errors, Novak raised his level in game six and earned his only break when Andy sprayed a forehand error.
Djokovic served well in game seven and reduced the deficit to 4-3, playing his best tennis since the encounter’s opening games. Murray stayed composed and held at 15 in game eight to increase the advantage to 5-3 and put one hand on the trophy.
Novak secured another comfortable hold in game nine to remain within one break deficit ahead of the crucial tenth game. Murray served for the title at 5-4 and squandered two match points after Djokovic’s winners. Carried by the partisan crowd, the Briton earned the third match point and seized it following a service winner that secured the title and the year-end no. 1 spot for him.