Djokovic wins 7th ATP to set another record

TURIN, Italy (AP):

Novak Djokovic ended the year just as he started it - by setting records.

The top-ranked Djokovic won a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title yesterday with a straight-set victory over home favourite Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic took one hour and 43 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3, as the Serbian continues to reach new heights at 36.

He started the year with a record-extending 10th Australian Open title and claimed his 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy at the French Open, breaking Rafael Nadal's mark. Djokovic, who lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, also won the US Open.

"One of the best seasons I've had in my life, no doubt," Djokovic said. "To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal."

Djokovic entered yesterday's final tied with Roger Federer on six titles at the season-ending tournament for the year's top eight players.

And he stretched out his arms and beamed broadly after clinching his seventh when Sinner double-faulted.

The victory echoed the clinical way Djokovic dispatched second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in Saturday's semi-final encounter.

"I'm very proud of the performances these last two days against Alcaraz and Sinner, probably the best two players in the world next to me and (Daniil) Medvedev at the moment, and the way they have been playing I had to step it up," Djokovic said.

"I had to win the matches and not wait for them to hand me the victory, and that's what I've done. I think I tactically played differently today than I have in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall, it was a phenomenal week."

It was his fourth win over Sinner, who had recorded a first-ever victory against Djokovic in the group stage in Turin and was the first Italian to reach the final.

Djokovic was in imperious form yesterday and won 14 straight points from the end of the first set to the third game of the second to leave him firmly in control and subdue the Turin crowd.

Djokovic had already secured the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record-extending eighth time by winning his opening match at the ATP Finals.