Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the trophy as ATP world best player at the ATP World Tour Finals, at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. Djokovic was presented with the trophy for finishing the year ranked No. 1. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Serbian Djokovic was handed the trophy for securing the year end world No.1 spot, before German Zverev battled from behind to claim a 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4 win over Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic was presented with the trophy for finishing the season as world number one, a position he secured after winning his thrilling Green Group opener with Holger Rune on Sunday night, a match which lasted more than three hours.
Djokovic is a red-hot favourite to claim his seventh Finals title which would put him out of his own as the record winner, one ahead of retired great and old rival Roger Federer.
“It’s obviously the crown of the season, finishing the year as number one in the world I think is a dream of every tennis player, it’s one of the most difficult things to do in our sport,” said Djokovic on the… nonfly… tougher for Alcaraz
He was then dumped out early at the Paris Masters by Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin and flagged towards the end of a bruising contest with giant German Zverev, the number seven seed in Turin.
Zverev is tough opposition on hard courts like the one at the Pala Alpitour and made full use of his height and power to see off Alcaraz and take the lead in the Red Group.