The season ending Nitto ATP Finals is a singularly sparkling showcase for the top eight players in the world, a tournament that ends the season in men’s tennis on a high note with so many sparkling matchups, and a celebration of how stirring a spectacle the indoor game can be. With two round robin groups comprised of four players each leading into straightforward, single elimination semifinals and final, there is an intrigue surrounding the festivities at this tournament that does not even remotely resemble any other event.

This time around in Turin, the round robin produced some majestic tennis, and the keynote performer was none other than the swashbuckling Italian Jannik Sinner. He kept Italian hopes exceedingly high all week long, taking all three matches he played in the round robin before eclipsing Daniil Medvedev for the third time in a row to claim a place in the most significant final of his career. Among those he defeated in round robin play was none other than Novak Djokovic. Sinner was riding high, raising expectations all across his nation, and making everyone stand up and pay close attention to him and his exploits.

But what too many learned observers failed to recognize was that Djokovic is the ultimate big match player. He can turn himself into an entirely different player when he has a mission on his mind and whenever he feels the need to redefine himself to his fellow players and the tennis world at large. Moreover, after winning two of his three round robin clashes but being pushed to three sets in all of them, he was dissatisfied with his level of play and determined to prove to himself that he could win a record breaking seventh ATP Finals crown and perform at the loftiest heights when the stakes were greatest and the pressure was on.

The tennis that Djokovic unleashed over the weekend in Turin across the semifinal and final may very well have surpassed anything he put on display in winning three of the four majors in 2023. It was almost inarguably the best he has summoned all year long because he clearly wanted to conclude the 2023 tournament campaign with a flourish and use his triumphant run in Italy to roar into the year ahead with force, conviction, persuasion and the utmost of confidence.

Given the opportunity to avenge his loss to Sinner five days after they had met in the round robin, Djokovic was well aware that he had been too conservative in that initial appointment. Both players won 109 points in that memorable round robin duel, but it was Sinner who had been unmistakably bolder on the biggest points, particularly down the homestretch. Djokovic recognized swiftly that he would need to make amends if he got a second chance against Sinner, and he did just that.

From the outset in the final, Djokovic was outhitting Sinner from the backcourt, serving with uncanny precision and purpose, taking matters entirely into his own hands, and playing the match on his own terms. He was setting the tactical agenda.

Above all else, the ease with which Djokovic was holding serve was creating a tension in Sinner that was almost tangible. The first game was thematic. Djokovic held at love, releasing a pair of aces in the process. On his way to 2-1, the Serbian produced two more aces and held at 15. Sinner established a 40-15 lead in the fourth game but a serve-and-volley combination did not do the job. Djokovic beat him with a topspin lob winner before the 22-year-old lost the next two points with errant forehands, although he should have challenged the second one because his forehand clipped the baseline.

At break point down, Sinner overcooked another forehand, sending it wide, allowing Djokovic the luxury of a 3-1 lead. Djokovic surged to 4-1 at the cost of only one point and then advanced to 5-2 at love with an ace, a service winner and two more unreturned serves. Serving for the set at 5-3, Djokovic did not allow Sinner a point as he closed out the set 6-3 very commandingly. In five service games, he won 20 of 22 points, connected with 73% of his first serves, and aced Sinner seven times. He made two unforced errors over the course of nine games.

The 36-year-old built on his momentum by breaking Sinner at love to start the second set before holding at love to reach 2-0, sending out his eighth and ninth aces in that game. By the time a masterful Djokovic reached 0-30 in the third game, he had won 14 consecutive points and was threatening to break the contest wide open. Later in that third game he had three break points but Sinner erased the first with an unanswerable 115 MPH second serve down the T. Djokovic had a golden opportunity on the second but his forehand down the line passing shot which had Sinner beaten cold bounded off the net cord and landed wide. He had a third break point that Sinner saved with an ace. After three deuces, Sinner tenuously held on.

Djokovic was unswayed, holding at love for 3-1 with three straight aces followed by a service winner. But he was given his sternest test yet in the sixth game, falling behind 15-40. And yet a service winner out wide saved the first break point and another effective first serve coaxed a backhand return error from Sinner, enabling Djokovic to make it back to deuce. He took the next two points confidently for a 4-2 lead.

Once more, Djokovic made a concerted effort to get the insurance break. With Sinner serving in the seventh game, there were eight deuces and Sinner did not hold until his seventh game point after Djokovic had two break points that he squandered with a sliced backhand error and a miscalculation on a Sinner forehand that landed on the sideline and left the Serbian unprepared. Sinner secured that arduous hold with an ace, leaving Djokovic apprehensive about another missed chance.

Serving with new balls at 4-3, Djokovic trailed 0-30, but eventually held from deuce, finishing off that somewhat shaky hold with his 13th ace. Now Sinner was serving to stay in the match in the ninth game and, despite an ace for 30-30, he was broken at 30 on his lone double fault of the match. Djokovic emerged victorious 6-3, 6-3. His triumph can be attributed to two primary virtues: the quality of his first and second serves, and his blend of firepower and consistency from the backcourt. He was hitting his forehand considerably harder than Sinner, which is no mean feat. He won 38 of 46 points on serve altogether, most notably 29 of 32 on his first serve. And he never allowed Sinner to get comfortable from the backcourt, keeping the Italian at bay with pace and persistence off both sides.

Djokovic was no less dazzling in his dismantling of Alcaraz in the penultimate round. Every time they had met prior to this collision, Djokovic and Alcaraz had played matches that would not be classified as one-sided. Not one of their four previous duels had ended in straight sets. Alcaraz took their first contest in a final set tie-break on clay in Madrid 18 months ago. The Serbian and the Spaniard split two spectacular sets at Roland Garros this year in the semifinals before Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Alcaraz had started cramping late in the second set.

In the Wimbledon final back in July, Alcaraz succeeded in five sets and then they did battle in the final of Cincinnati with Djokovic saving a match point in the second set tie-break before pulling out a gratifying victory in a third set tie-break. That spellbinding battle lasted nearly four hours.

Most members of the tennis cognoscenti were expecting another razor thin margin between the two best players in the world at Turin, but for the first time Djokovic defeated Alcaraz handily on the fast indoor hard court. It did not look like a romp in the early stages. Djokovic was down 15-40 in the opening game when Alcaraz drove a two-hander wide off the net cord. Djokovic’s 116 MPH second serve down the T put him in charge of the next point and Alcaraz missed his second shot off the forehand. A service winner and an ace took Djokovic out of danger and into a 1-0 lead.

But Alcaraz was serving up a storm. He made 14 first serves in a row and took 12 of 16 points on his delivery en route to 3-3. Djokovic had worked his way out of another difficult service game at 2-2 that went to two deuces as Alcaraz blasted away freely off the ground. But the 20-year-old Spaniard lost his range off the backhand in the eighth game and Djokovic broke him for a 5-3 lead. The Serbian then held at love with an ace out wide to seal the set 6-3.

Djokovic was pummeling away at Alcaraz’s backhand and keeping the Spaniard ill at ease and off balance. He broke for 2-1 in the second set, held easily for 3-1 and nearly gained another break in the fifth game. Alcaraz’s saved a break point and then found renewed inspiration when Djokovic served in the sixth game. Three rallies in that game lasted between 20 and 24 strokes. The Spaniard showed off his astounding speed and shotmaking versatility. At 15-15, Djokovic had Alcaraz on a string, moving him from corner to corner, controlling the rally ruthlessly. But Alcaraz somehow recovered, shifted from defense to offense and stunned the approving audience and his opponent with a forehand winner. He advanced to 15-40 with a forehand volley winner down the line.

Clearly the Spaniard believed he was about to break back and change the color of the contest. But Djokovic had other notions. A service winner down the T took him to 30-40. Now he had to defend steadfastly, but he did just that. On the 23rd shot of a fierce exchange, he angled a forehand crosscourt passing shot into the clear. From deuce he put away a forehand swing volley and then hit a service winner to reach 4-2. Djokovic was not complacent. He went full force after another service break in the seventh game and achieved it. After a 24 stroke exchange, he elicited a forehand error from the Spaniard to reach 5-2, and then easily served it out in the following game to finish off a satisfying 6-3, 6-2 victory over his chief rival all year in the battle for No. 1. Despite getting 84% of his first serves in and serving ten aces, Alcaraz was trounced by a top of the line Djokovic.

The Djokovic who toppled Alcaraz and Sinner was not playing the same brand of tennis in the round robin stage of the tournament in Turin. He had come into the event knowing he needed only one round robin victory to seal an eighth year-end No. 1 world ranking. That was his overriding goal. Pete Sampras concluded six consecutive (and total) years at No. 1. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Jimmy Connors all ended five years at the top. Djokovic was determined to separate himself even more from those luminaries in this department, and he was well aware that he could add to his record for time spent at the top of the rankings to 400 weeks following Turin. Federer is in second place at 310 weeks.

So Djokovic took great pride in his dual achievement of eight year end finishes at No. 1 as well as 400 weeks. He secured that honor by taking his opening round robin match over Holger Rune 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-3. He was far from his zenith against the 20-year-old Dane. He did play a disciplined opening set tie-break but the second set tie-break was dismal from Djokovic’s end of the court. Even with Rune struggling physically in the final set and seemingly spent, Djokovic was below par but from 2-2 he took three games in a row. At 5-3 he held at love to close out the account. 

The next day Djokovic was honored by the ATP with an on court ceremony for his No. 1 accomplishment. He returned the following evening to face Sinner, who had already easily dismissed Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. Djokovic played good but not great tennis in this match, while Sinner was feeding off the crowd, performing magnificently. At 4-5, 15-30 in the first set, Sinner was fortunate when Djokovic inexplicably attempted a sliced backhand when he could have driven that shot. He missed it long. In the next game, Djokovic led 40-0 but Sinner swept three points in a row. At deuce, Djokovic double faulted and Sinner took the next point with calculated aggression. The Italian had the break and closed out the set unhesitatingly. Djokovic was twice down a mini-break in the second set tie-break but he rallied to win it seven points to five.

Sinner broke Djokovic to lead 4-2 in the third set but the Serbian retaliated in the following game. It all came down to a tie-break and Sinner was unstoppable. He won the first five points and pulled away to defeat Djokovic for the first time in four career appointments despite 20 aces from the Serbian. Sinner won 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2).

Matters got complicated in that group. Tsitsipas retired with a back injury after trailing 2-1 in the first set against Rune. He was replaced by Hubert Hurkacz. Djokovic recouped from his loss to Sinner and beat the big serving Polish player 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1. Hurkacz did not miss a first serve in the tie-break but Djokovic was tremendous on his returns. The only point he lost was on his own serve at 6-0. But Hurkacz broke Djokovic once in the second set and was unyielding on his delivery. Not until the third set did Hurkacz’s level recede. His first serve percentage dropped to 45% with only ten first serves landing in the box. Seven of those ten were aces. He had 24 for the match.

Djokovic finished round robin play with a 2-1 record but only a 5-4 winning record in sets. That meant Rune could join Sinner in the semifinals from the Green Group if he beat the Italian that evening. Djokovic’s fate was in Sinner’s hands. Some wondered if Sinner might want to spare himself a potential rematch with Djokovic in the final by deliberately losing to Rune. But they failed to recognize that Sinner is a professional through and through. He was not going to give anything less than his best. He has a lot of integrity.

Sinner crushed Rune in the first set but dropped a tight second set. His back seemed to be bothering him. But he battled on gallantly in the third set and fended off a break point against him at 3-4. A body serve from the Italian drew an errant down the line backhand return from the Dane. Sinner came through 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 and saved Djokovic from missing out on the semifinals. Sinner finished first in the Green Group and Djokovic second.

In the Red Group, Daniil Medvedev had won his first two matches over Andrey Rublev and Sascha Zverev, prevailing in straight sets both times. His semifinal place was assured. But the other semifinalist from that group was up in the air. Alcaraz had lost a hard fought and well played encounter against Zverev 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4. It was perhaps Zverev’s best performance of the 2023 season. But then he lost to Medvedev. On the last day of round robin competition it all came down to Alcaraz confronting Medvedev with victory assuring him of a semifinal slot. More confident after beating Rublev in straight sets, Alcaraz avenged his U.S. Open loss to Medvedev with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph. The Spaniard kept Medvedev completely at bay with his capacity to attack at opportune times. He never lost his serve.

And so Alcaraz won the Red Group and Medvedev finished second. Medvedev was determined to prevent Sinner from ousting him for the third time in a row after winning their first six head to head contests. But Sinner was too composed. In the first set Sinner was up 40-0 at 1-1 but had bail himself out from break point down before holding on. Then Medvedev led 40-0 at 1-2 but lost his serve primarily on surprising mistakes. Sinner held from 0-30 in the fifth game and moved on to 4-1. Sinner took that set comfortably in the end, but Medvedev served with clinical efficiency in the second set.

He then left the court to get help from an ATP physiotherapist for an apparent ailing hip. Sinner rolled in the third set as Medvedev emotionally imploded. The Italian won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-1. A nation anticipated a significant breakthrough for the world No. 4. But their dream was hit by a hard reality. Nonetheless, he was the best player outside of Djokovic in the second half of 2023. He made it to his first major semifinal at Wimbledon, won the Masters 1000 title in Toronto and then added tournament wins in Beijing and Vienna before his runner-up showing in Turin.

History was largely on Djokovic’s side in the final. In the 47 previous editions of the ATP Finals when played under the round robin followed by a single elimination semifinals and final round format, there had been 26 times when a player who lost a round robin match went on to win the tournament. Djokovic had done it twice himself. In 2008 he was defeated by Nikolay Davydenko in the round robin but he came back to beat Davydenko in the final. Seven years later, he was beaten by Federer in the round robin but stopped the Swiss Maestro in the final.

Moreover, Djokovic had time to accept his round robin loss to Sinner and move on, and was surely motivated by the opportunity to get some revenge. He wanted that record of seven titles at the ATP Finals that he had previously shared with Federer, and was delighted to win his seventh title in twelve tournament appearances this season. The last year he won as many as seven tournaments was back in 2016. This was also his 98th career ATP Tour singles championship and so Djokovic is now only five titles behind Federer and eleven in back of the leader Connors.

History is still the driving force that fuels Novak Djokovic, and he won’t shy away from any pursuit that will enhance his legacy and enlarge his reputation. No wonder Djokovic was saying in Turin that he considers 2023 to be one of his finest seasons. This was the fourth year in his shining career that Djokovic has won three majors. It was the third time he reached all four Grand Slam finals in a season. He wraps up this season with a pair of Masters 1000 titles and the fifth biggest tournament of them all— the ATP Finals—backing up his stellar record at the Grand Slam events. After losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic closed his season with victories in his last four tournaments—Cincinnati, the U.S. Open, Rolex Paris Masters and ATP Finals— as well as winning 22 of his last 23 matches as he heads into Davis Cup this week. Conversely, Alcaraz did not win a tournament after taking his sixth title of the season at Wimbledon.

For Djokovic to be so prolific at 36 is nothing short of stupendous. Djokovic should have another two prodigious years ahead of him. I remain convinced he will win at least three or four majors over the next couple of seasons, and he will push hard to break the Connors tournament titles record. Sooner or later his supply of ambition will diminish, but, for at least another few years, Novak Djokovic will remain the game’s central figure, the premier match player in tennis and a champion of enduring excellence who seems in so many ways to be getting better with the passing years as he zeroes in on his chief targets with a ferocity and purpose that no one else can match.

He had not played a tournament since securing his 24th major at the U.S. Open on September 10— or a match of any kind since representing Serbia in Davis Cup the following week—using that time to rest his body, ease his mind and zero in on the arduous path ahead. He was probably not expecting too much from himself at the Rolex Paris Masters after being away from the competitive world of professional tennis for such a long time.

As if he did not have enough to worry about upon his return to the ATP Tour, he then was hit hard by a stomach ailment midweek in Paris that complicated matters considerably.

Be that as it may, Novak Djokovic somehow survived a harrowing week in France and ultimately collected his 40th Masters 1000 crown, his 97th career singles championship, and his sixth title of 2023 in only eleven 2023 tournament appearances. Despite obvious discomfort and a string of three excruciating encounters leading up to the final that pushed him to his absolute limits and tested comprehensively not only his physical durability  but, even more so, his emotional stability, Djokovic moved past his difficulties and found victory deservedly in the end. The biggest weapon in tennis these days is his incomparable mind.

Djokovic’s final round triumph over a revitalized Grigor Dimitrov was straightforward and largely devoid of suspense because the Serbian was immensely disciplined and resolute. He did not face a break point in nine service games across two sets, dissecting his adversary 6-4, 6-3 with his usual pride and professionalism. From start to finish, Djokovic was determined to finish this piece of business swiftly and methodically, and he did just that.

In the early stages, Djokovic was somewhat apprehensive, falling behind 15-30 in the second game on his serve and trailing 0-30 when he served at 1-2. But he met those moments with his usual clarity and conviction. In the latter of those games, he was particularly impressive. On the 0-30 point he opened up the court with a backhand crosscourt approach that set up a scintillating backhand angled drop volley winner. He followed with a service winner down the T, coaxed an error off the Dimitrov backhand slice, and then took his fourth point in a row by sending Dimitrov side to side with controlled aggression until he elicited an error.

At 3-3, Djokovic made his move. His returns in that entire seventh game were remarkable. At 30-40, Dimitrov sent a first serve wide to the Djokovic backhand that should have been a point winner.  Yet Djokovic lunged to his left, blocked the return back low and short, and provoked a netted a topspin backhand from Dimitrov.

Djokovic had the break for 4-3 and made it count. He held at love with two service winners and an ace to reach 5-3. Serving for the set two games later, Djokovic advanced to 40-30 but netted a forehand off an effective Dimitrov backhand slice. But then Djokoivic profited from a pair of errant backhand slices from his opponent, and the set belonged to the cagey favorite 6-4.

At 2-2 in the second set, Djokovic made a solid backhand return on break point that Dimitrov mistakenly thought he could control with a topspin backhand down the line reply. That shot landed long, and allowed Djokovic to move in front 3-2. He held at love for 4-2 with an ace out wide in the ad court and then had a break point for 5-2 that Dimitrov erased with a gutsy inside out forehand forcing an error.

The 32-year-old Bulgarian held on gamely in that seventh game, but Djokovic was unflustered. Serving at 4-3, 30-30, he released consecutive first serves down the T and Dimitrov could not get either one back in play. Djokovic moved to 5-3, and then determined that it was closing time, opening the ninth game with a scorching  backhand down the line winner. Dimitrov took the next two points but double faulted for 30-30. Now Djokovic went for the inside out backhand second serve return winner and made it. On match point at 30-40, he looped a forehand inside out and drew the error he wanted.

Djokovic had prevailed 6-4, 6-3. The 36-year-old connected with 67% of his first serves, winning 81% of those points. He won 11 of 16 second serve points (69%). He played the match on his terms, setting the tempo he wanted, keeping Dimitrov at bay from beginning to end, defeating his old rival and friend for the 12th time in 13 career meetings. The week had concluded almost the way it started, when Djokovic commenced his campaign for his seventh Rolex Masters Paris title with a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry in 84 efficient minutes.

But that appointment on Wednesday November 1 was followed by three rugged skirmishes that Djokovic had to navigate with the greatest of care just to survive.

The first of these battles was against the 27-year-old Tallon Griekspoor. In two previous duels with the Dutchman, Djokovic had triumphed without much trouble. But this time he drifted dangerously close to defeat against the world No. 21.

Djokovic surged to a 4-1 first set lead and then served at 4-2, 40-15. He challenged a call on the sideline, believing the ball had landed wide. It hit the line. Griekspoor broke back and had a new lease on life. He won five games in a row to steal the set, with Djokovic looking more and more listless with each passing moment. He called for the tournament doctor, who gave him a pill for his ailing stomach.

He remained almost zombie-like for a while, but gradually found a trace of intensity—if no more than that. At 4-4, Djokovic held on from 15-40 with some clutch serving. They travelled to a tie-break, and here Djokovic at last looked like the essential Djokovic, taking it seven points to two with regal authority.

And yet, the tension was not over. Although Griekspoor was not teeing off and lacing second serve returns with the same relish he had earlier, he still was fighting fiercely. Griekspoor made it back to 4-4 in that final set when Djokovic double faulted at break point down in the eighth game. The crowd cheered heartily after that point, with some perhaps wanting more tennis and others hoping for the Serbian’s demise. Djokovic egged them on by raising his arms defiantly while smiling almost ironically, knowing that he thrives so often when confronted by an acrimonious audience. Djokovic proceeded to run off eight consecutive points, completing a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 win and moving into the quarterfinals.

Waiting for Djokovic there was the young fellow who had upended him in the final a year ago on the same court. In fact, by virtue of that win in Paris one year ago, Holger Rune established himself as the only player ever to beat Djokovic from a set down in a Masters 1000 final. Djokovic has won 31 of 32 finals at that level over the course of his career after winning the opening set.

Moreover, Rune had toppled Djokovic again in another three set match on the clay at Rome earlier this year. They had not met since. Needless to say, but Djokovic does not take kindly to losing against anyone three times in a row. Another point of intrigue surrounding this quarterfinal confrontation: Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker was now in Rune’s corner.

Rune had endured a terrible slump this year after moving into the top five in the world and reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. He had back problems and went into a disconcerting tailspin that no one could have anticipated. Before he joined forces with Becker in Basel, Rune had lost eight of his last nine matches. His swagger was gone. He was not the same player we had witnessed over the past year.

But, with Becker by his side, Rune made it to the semifinals of Basel, and then played well on his way to the showdown with Djokovic in Paris. His creativity on the court, his willingness to get to the net commandingly, his bold second serve speeds— all of these qualities make Rune a compelling performer. Djokovic seemed to be feeling better than he had the day before against Griekspoor, but remained subdued.

Nonetheless, he was in good form, as was Rune. The first set was settled by one break in the twelfth game with Rune serving at 5-6. He reached game point for a potential tie-break but Djokovic persisted and reached set point. He came forward, punched a forehand volley low, and then put away a backhand swing volley from close range that landed on the line.

Djokovic sealed the crucial opening set 7-5. After an early exchange of breaks in the second, he then reached match point with Rune serving at 4-5. But the 20-year-old Dane audaciously sent an impeccably placed and unstoppable first serve down the T to save it. They went to a tie-break and improbably Djokovic was the player who faltered. For only the sixth time in 33 tie-breaks this year he was beaten, but it was more a case of self inflicted wounds from Djokovic (including a double fault at 1-3) than Rune’s shining play that allowed the Dane to prevail seven points to three.

At the end of that sequence, however, Rune was cramping. Djokovic took a bathroom break and when play resumed Rune was not unduly inhibited. But with some expert use of the lob and his customary court sense, Djokovic broke early in the third set and never looked back, serving beautifully to win 20 of 23 points on his delivery including five aces. In two hours and 54 minutes of hard fought and high quality tennis, Djokovic was victorious 7-5, 6-7 (7-3), 6-4.

His next assignment was a semifinal against Andrey Rublev. Djokovic had won four of their five previous confrontations including a come from behind four set victory in their most recent battle at Wimbledon.

Rublev has undoubtedly played the finest tennis of his career in 2023. He won the Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo over Rune and was runner-up to Hubert Hurkacz in the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament. His explosive backcourt game featuring one of the biggest forehands in the sport— along with a significantly improved backhand that he takes down the line more frequently— have made Rublev a more formidable player across the board

But the Rublev who showed up to play Djokovic indoors in Paris was combining power, purpose and reliability with a persuasiveness he has perhaps never exhibited before. It was breathtaking to observe the tennis he produced on this occasion. When Djokovic broke Rublev with some stunning running forehands in the opening game, it looked like business as usual for the world No. 1.

But the 36-year-old wasted four game points in the second game and an unbending Rublev broke right back. From that juncture, Rublev had the upper hand for most of the first set. By the middle of that set, Djokovic was clearly suffering to some degree with the stomach issue, looking wan and moving with much less alacrity than normal. With Rublev walloping his ground strokes ruthlessly and hardly missing despite unleashing one gargantuan shot after another, Djokovic was on his heels and fighting just to stay afloat.

At 3-4 in that first set, Djokovic held on from 0-40 with a stream of aces and service winners and at 4-5 the scenario was similar. In that tenth game he was down 0-30 but an ace got him back on track and he swept four points in a row to reach 5-5. Rublev was not perturbed. With Djokovic serving at 5-6, 30-30, Rublev’s return set up an outright winner and then Djokovic surprisingly tried a drop shot off Rublev’s return. It did not even reach the net. Set to Rublev, 7-5.

Once more, Djokovic found himself in a precarious place, down a set against a top five player who was playing arguably the match of his life. In the second game of the second set, Djokovic was down break point but he released a service winner down the T to bail himself out and advanced to 1-1. At 2-2, he had Rublev down 0-40 but the Russian held on with the help of a net cord winner at 30-40. He then saved another break point at 3-3 with a forehand inside out winner.

Twice in the latter stages of that hard fought set, Djokovic had to serve to stay in the match. He was three points from losing at 4-5, 15-15 but defended magnificently out of his forehand corner to reach 30-15, connected immaculately with a forehand inside in winner for 40-15, and aced Rublev out wide to hold for 5-5 at 15. Serving at 5-6 he was down 0-15 and three points from defeat again, but took four points in a row once more with immense poise under pressure.

Now they settled the second set in a tie-break. The players were locked at 2-2 when Djokovic went to work as only he can in these critical sequences. He coaxed an error from Rublev to get the mini-break for 3-2 and then defended with extraordinary determination as Rublev had him scurrying all over the court. Djokovic worked his way back to a neutral position and then employed a short and low backhand chip to draw Rublev in and make him miss.

It was 4-2 for an inspired Djokovic. A service winner down the T took him to 5-2. After an ace from Rublev made it 5-3, Djokovic took an excellent first serve wide from Rublev and rifled his return crosscourt for a dazzling winner. At 6-3, he closed that tie-break out with an ace out wide in the ad court. The 7-3 tie-break triumph was classic Djokovic.

And yet, he was hurting. On the first point of that tie-break, Djokovic had lunged to reach for a backhand return off a big serve from Rublev, aggravating his back. Djokovic took a bathroom break and then called for the trainer, who rubbed his back. Fortunately, he was able to pick up where he left off and keep elevating his game.

Nevertheless, Rublev was not wilting— not in the least. But he was under siege by an opponent who was no longer believing he could lose.

With Rublev serving at 1-2 in the third set, Djokovic had 15-40 and double break point but he netted a backhand crosscourt passing shot. Rublev held on with tenacity. Djokovic was creating scoreboard pressure on Rublev but also holding swiftly and confidently, winning 24 of 29 points on serve in that final set. Rublev later served at 4-5, 0-30, but missed only one first serve on the next four points and closed out that game with an ace for 5-5. Djokovic held at love for 6-5 with an ace and a perfectly packaged serve-and-volley point in that game, and now Rublev served for the second time to stay in the match.

This time, he did not succeed.

Djokovic was defending stupendously in this game. He outmaneuvered Rublev from the baseline twice to reach 0-30 before Rublev put away an overhead. But Djokovic was unrelenting now. A deep backhand down the line forced an error from Rublev to make it 15-40. Cruelly, Rublev double faulted long off the net cord going down the T on the next point and victory belonged to Djokovic 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in just over three hours of spellbinding tennis. I put that match right up there among the top five men’s contests of the year. Outside of the majors, this was the best with the exception of Djokovic’s 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4) win over Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final.

Undoubtedly the week was almost all about Djokovic and his seventh title run at the Rolex Paris Masters. But not entirely.

Dimitrov deserves high marks for finishing his season with such an inspired run and rising again into the top 15 in the world. After he concluded 2017 at No. 3 in the world when he won the ATP Finals, he has fought in vain to stay in that territory while simultaneously setting high standards. But this year he has played his best tennis since 2017 and arguably his game is at an even higher level.

He toppled Alcaraz on his way to the semifinals of Shanghai, which in some ways set the stage for the Bulgarian’s excellent run in Paris. He started his journey in France with a three set win over Lorenzo Musetti. In the second round he avenged a hard fought loss he had suffered in Vienna against No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev. Aside from the Djokovic-Rublev contest, this was the most compelling match of the week. 

Dimitrov took the first set from Medvedev but dropped the second before gaining the upper hand again in the third. He served for the match at 5-3 and had four match points, but failed to get a first serve in on any of them. Later, at 5-6, Medvedev faced two more match points, managing to escape. But Dimitrov refused to lose his composure or abandon his game plan. He raced to a 5-0 final set tie-break lead and closed it out seven points to two for one of the most impressive victories of his career. Dimitrov won by scores of 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2).

In the round of 16, Dimitrov toppled Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-2 before ousting Hurkacz 6-1,4-6, 6-4 as the Polish player lost his outside chance to qualify as one of the elite eight players for Turin. But Dimitrov was not done with his exploits.

He played a tremendous match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. The Greek stylist had won six of his seven career contests against Dimitrov, but this was a week when the Bulgarian was in a different mindset and not preoccupied with the past. Dimitrov completely outplayed Tsitsipas in the first set and then had two break points at 4-4 in the second. But Tsitsipas knifed a forehand volley into the clear and saved the other with a penetrating forehand off a net cord return from an unlucky Dimitrov.

Tsitsipas was too good in winning the second set in a tie-break and then had four break points at 1-1 in the third— the only ones he would create all match long. Dimitrov held on steadfastly. That final set also went to a tie-break and in this one Dimitrov was out of this world. He produced four winners in that sequence including three sparkling passing shots, and took the match by the same scoreline as his Medvedev encounter: 6-3, 6-7 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3). Dimitrov was outclassed by a better player in the final, but the fact remained that he had ended his year in style. The last time he had been in a Masters 1000 final was six years ago in Cincinnati when he took the title over Nick Kyrgios.

Now the stage is set for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, which starts on November 12. The defending champion Djokovic will be the clear favorite as he chases a seventh crown in that season ending tournament for the top eight players. Carlos Alcaraz— beaten in the second round of Paris by the Russian Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4 after being up a break in both sets—will be trying to break out of a slump after dealing with two injury issues recently. He has not won a tournament since his stirring five set, final round clash with Djokovic at Wimbledon.

The two other main contenders will be world No. 3 Medvedev—the 2020 champion—and world No. 4 Jannik Sinner, who is coming off his greatest season yet and looking forward to performing commendably for his home country’s fans. Rounding out the field are Rublev,  2019 champion Tsitsipas, 2018 and 2021 champion Sascha Zverev, and Rune.

It is an excellent cast with some enticing matchups. Djokovic is, of course, the man to beat. But based on recent form I must give Sinner the next best chance. Medvedev has not won a tournament since Rome. Neither he nor Alcaraz will be that confident going into the tournament, although that could change during the week. But Djokovic is riding high after another significant tournament win, and Sinner will be confident after stopping Medvedev in two finals this autumn at Beijing and Vienna. Although he dropped out of the Rolex Paris Masters after winning his opening match over Mackenzie McDonald at the ungodly hour of 2:37 AM, Sinner will be rested for Turin and should be ready to go.

Djokovic will have a week to recover from the rigors of Paris, and some of the pressure on him to defend will be removed. With a 1490 point lead over Alcaraz in the ATP Race. Djokovic has almost a lock on an eighth year-end No. 1 ranking, so he should be able to keep his mind on the task at hand in Turin and, with an uncluttered mind, give himself the best possible chance to succeed in Italy. I can’t wait for this year end festival to unfold.

At the end of my most recent piece for this web site on the U.S. Open, I wrote, “The guess here is that he [Novak Djokovic] will play through 2025, add at least three or four more majors to his shining collection, and keep soaring through history on a singular path.There will never be a player who stands alone indisputably as the greatest of all time. That issue will always be passionately debated by those in the know, with differing views among the cognoscenti. But this much is certain: Novak Djokovic’s name will always be at the center of that conversation.”

Having had some time over the last month to think more about the fascinating G.O.A.T. debate that is embraced so readily by both the general sports public and diehard tennis fans, I would like to look more closely at Djokovic’s historical status.

I stand by what I wrote about a month ago. Not even the most erudite students of tennis history can state conclusively that any player is irrefutably the greatest of all time. There are many reasons that this is true. The sport has seen some towering champions come and go over the course of the past century, and in that span the competitive landscape has changed significantly.

The first enduringly important iconic players emerged in the 1920’s as tennis took on a new prominence in society. It was in that crucial decade that Bill Tilden defined what it meant to be a champion. Tilden was synonymous with tennis because he was in so many respects larger than the game he played so vigorously while collecting ten major titles. Across the 1930’s, the leading performer was none other than J. Donald Budge, who established himself in 1938 as the first player ever to win all four major championships in a single season for a Grand Slam.

Two more American icons became the dominant players of the forties and fifties. Jack Kramer took three majors in 1946-47 and was virtually unbeatable with his “Big Game”, dominating professional tennis from the end of 1947 through 1953.

Richard “Pancho” Gonzales was the leading professional champion of the second half of the 1950’s and on into the early sixties. While Tilden was a tactical genius and Budge transformed tennis with his majestic backhand. Kramer followed with a serve-volley package that was both revolutionary and unstoppable. Gonzales played essentially the same brand of attacking tennis as Kramer.

In the latter stages of the 1950’s, the explosively talented Australian Lew Hoad was at his zenith. In 1956, he moved within one match of a Grand Slam before losing a four set final at Forest Hills against countryman Ken Rosewall. Many who witnessed Hoad during his prime are convinced he was the most gifted champion the game has yet produced.

Over the course of the 1960’s, “Rocket” Rod Laver—a left-handed Australian dynamo— secured a pair of Grand Slams, taking the first as an amateur in 1962, winning the second seven years later as a professional in only the second year of “Open Tennis.” Laver, of course, belongs front and center in any conversation about authentic candidates worthy of wearing the G.O.A.T robe. So, too, does the estimable Pete Sampras, who concluded his career 21 years ago with a then record 14 majors as well as celebrating a record six consecutive years at No. 1 in the world from 1993-98. The imperturbable American prevailed in 14 of 18 major finals.

After Sampras wrapped up his career so stylishly by capturing the last official match he would ever play in the final of the 2002 U.S. Open against revered rival Andre Agassi, the potent trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic sweepingly altered the tennis landscape with a collective force of will and a ceaseless commitment to excellence that inspired sports fans in every corner of the globe who marveled at the astounding exploits of the Swiss maestro, the Spanish gladiator and the stupendous Serbian.

Youthful followers of the game erroneously believe that somehow no one who preceded these three gigantic figures can possibly be worthy of the loftiest historical praise. They too easily overlook the stature and achievements of yesteryear’s standout performers, although that is somewhat understandable in light of the enormity of what Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have accomplished in their golden era.

Federer’s milestones include a record eight men’s Wimbledon singles crowns, 20 majors altogether, an astonishing 237 consecutive weeks and 310 total weeks at No. 1 in the world, five year-end No. 1 honors, a remarkable 23 consecutive semifinals (or better) at the majors from 2004-2010 and 36 straight quarterfinals (or better) at the Grand Slam events from 2004-2013. He was victorious at 103 tournaments altogether, second only to Jimmy Connors (109) in the Open Era.

When Federer surpassed Sampras at the majors by claiming his 15th “Big Four” title at Wimbledon in 2009, he seemed certain to hold that record for a good long while. But appearances were deceiving. Nadal— five years younger than Federer—made up for lost time. He has amassed no fewer than 14 French Open titles between 2005 and 2022, along with two Wimbledon and two Australian Open crowns, not to mention four U.S. Opens. Nadal has managed to conclude five seasons (2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019) at No. 1. 

He has been gone from the game since suffering a second round loss at the Australian Open this year, and no one knows quite what to expect from him when he returns next year. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the Spaniard owns 22 majors. As recently as the middle of 2022, he not only had moved past Federer at the premier championships, but also stood two ahead of Djokovic. Even if Nadal never competes again, his clay court supremacy sets him apart in some respects. He has taken 49 other titles on the dirt beyond his Roland Garros tournament wins. Moreover, he has garnered 29 more titles in his career away from clay, including 25 on hard courts. Moreover, Nadal spent a record 18 consecutive years (2005-2022) among the top ten. His record is prodigious.

And yet, among modern competitors, no one has accomplished more than Novak Djokovic. His record is even more versatile, far ranging and multi-dimensional than either Federer or Nadal. His numerical supremacy is indisputable. Djokovic is the only male player ever to win all four majors at least three times, realizing that feat by virtue of his Roland Garros triumph this year. He has lifted his staggering total of major titles to 24, four more than Federer, two ahead of Nadal. Only once in his career (2010), did the redoubtable Nadal collect three majors in a single season. Federer realized that considerable feat thrice (2004, 2006, 2007). Djokovic has done it in four different years (2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023).

While Nadal has captured only two indoor titles in his career and has never come through at the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals, Djokovic is a 17-times indoor tournament victor who is tied with Federer for the record as a six-time ATP Finals champion. On clay, Djokovic not only has his three French Open titles but also 16 more championships including eleven at Masters 1000 events— most notably six at the second biggest tournament of them all on the dirt in Rome.

Federer was a formidable clay court competitor but he triumphed only once at Roland Garros (in 2009) and took eleven titles on that surface, eight fewer than Djokovic.

There is more. Aside from the four majors and, arguably, the ATP Finals, the next most significant tournaments are the Masters 1000 events. They have grown steadily in prestige over the past couple of decades. Federer won 28 of those events. Nadal thus far has 36. Djokovic is the all time leader with 39.

As for consistency across the board at the Grand Slam championships, Djokovic’s record surpasses Federer’s. In 72 appearances at the majors, Djokovic has won one out of every three he has played, securing 24. He has been to the final in 36 of those tournaments— precisely half. He has advanced to the semifinals or beyond in 47 of his 72 majors. Federer was the champion in 20 of his 81 majors. He was in the final 31 times and a semifinalist or better on 46 occasions. Djokovic demonstrably has better Grand Slam tournament numbers than Federer, and both men surpass Nadal by a significant margin. Nadal has won nearly one third of his majors (22 titles in 67 tournaments), and his final round record (20-8) is better than Djokovic’s (24-12) or Federer’s (20-11). But he has not advanced to the semifinals in 29 of his major tournament appearances, which is a surprisingly high number for a player of his ilk.

To be sure, Nadal can be proud of his 6-3 record in major finals against Federer, and a 24-16 overall winning record versus the Swiss. Against Djokovic, Nadal is currently 29-30 in totality and 5-4 in major finals. Djokovic won four of his five final round meetings with Federer at the Grand Slam Championships and has a winning head to head record over each of his chief rivals—27-23 versus Federer, 30-29 over Nadal. At the end of 2010, the Serbian trailed Federer in their series 6-13 and simultaneously was well behind against Nadal at 7-16. The ground he made up against both luminaries from 2011 on was extraordinary.

Add up all of the numbers, and it is inarguable that Djokovic has outdone Federer and Nadal and all others in this remarkable era. He has resided at No. 1 in the world a record 393 weeks as this piece is printed (Federer is far behind in second place with 310 weeks), and has ended seven seasons at the top— two more than Nadal and Federer. To be fair, although it is unlikely that Nadal will win any more majors, he can’t be counted out. His reservoir of pride is vast and immeasurable. His body has been battered for too long and the cumulative impact has been devastating. But Nadal has bounced back resoundingly so frequently that only a fool would write him off. 

Be that as it may, even if the Spaniard somehow summons a 15th title run in Paris next June at 38, Djokovic, who turns 37 in May, will be priming for every major over the next couple of seasons with the same purposefulness he displayed this year.  As I wrote at the top of this piece, the Serbian seems fully capable of winning three or four more Grand Slam tournaments before he bids farewell to tennis. His determination knows no bounds. His steely resolve is unshakable. His mental toughness and supreme professionalism are the potent twin motors of his triumphs.

The case for Djokovic as the best tennis player of all time is powerful, widespread and persuasive. His credentials are unassailable. He has established himself as a match player of the highest order. No one has turned in so many splendid performances under the harsh light of pressure in the tournaments that have meant the most. 

He almost seems to relish opportunities to test himself under almost unbearably tense circumstances against his foremost adversaries, and meet those moments forthrightly. Go back in the eye of your mind and recollect Djokovic rescuing himself in the fifth set of his titanic encounter with Nadal in the final of the 2012 Australian Open, when the Spaniard served at 4-2, 30-15 before the Serbian captured five of six games to prevail 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in five hours and fifty three minutes.

Think of Djokovic twice rallying valiantly from double match point down to topple Federer in five set semifinals at the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Open semifinals. Bring back into your mind the 2019 Wimbledon final when Federer served for the match at 8-7, 40-15 in the fifth set of a Centre Court classic against Djokovic. Somehow Djokovic found his way to a 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 13-12 (7-3) victory after four hours and 57 minutes. Finally, reflect on the Cincinnati final this past summer between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, which had the feeling of a Grand Slam final. Djokovic was in a dire predicament, behind a set and a break on a scorching day. He made it to a second set tiebreak but was down match point. And yet, in the end, after three hours and forty nine minutes of bruising and spellbinding tennis, he stopped the Spaniard 5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4).

There have been many more Djokovic triumphs cut from a similar mould. These monumental victories have defined who Djokovic is and what he is made of. Surely there is more to come from this man of immense stature who has so openly targeted the toughest historical milestones, and so genuinely wants to be remembered as the best ever to pick up a racket. He has never been bashful about how he wants to be regarded, and has left no stone unturned in his pursuit of the loftiest goals that can be attained in tennis. He has been commendably willing to accept the consequences of being judged by the highest standards— even by himself. I have never seen a player demand more of himself in my 58 years of observing top flight tennis.

I believe he may very well be the greatest player in the history of the game, but I would assert unequivocally that he is the finest player of the Open Era which commenced 55 years ago. The enduring achievements, the arc of his career at and near the top for the past 17 years, the many ways he finds to beat different opponents with varying game plans, the completeness of his game and the layers he has added to his play over the years, the incomparable willpower and steadfastness he has displayed as a competitor—all of these traits have contributed to making Novak Djokovic the rarest of champions.

A brief examination of Djokovic’s statistics compiled by the ATP Tour explain with utter clarity why he succeeds so frequently. He has been the best front runner in tennis. Across his career, Djokovic’s match record is 936-41 (.958) after he has won the first set, the best of all documented players. After losing the first set, he is in second place behind Laver at 141-170 (.453). In tie-breaks, Djokovic stands atop the list for all male players at 319-163 (.662). He stands at No. 8 all time in five set contests on a percentage basis at 38-11 (.776), and is No. 4 on the “deciding set” list at 206-79 (.723).

Djokovic must be commended for his longterm excellence, but I hope that those who examine tennis history with a seriousness of purpose will be fair to standouts who scaled the heights in tennis before Djokovic rewrote the record books, and to those who will come to the forefront of the sport in the years to come. The male champions who competed prior to the advent of Open Tennis in 1968 played were living in a fragmented world. The top players like Gonzales and Kramer would turn pro and were then barred from the majors. After Laver turned pro at the end of 1962 he missed the next 21 majors. It was a different universe. Meanwhile, I still believe that Pete Sampras at his best was better than anyone on the fastest surfaces. His serve was the most lethally efficient weapon tennis has ever known.

In the years to come, Alcaraz will pile up majors relentlessly. Let’s see what the Spaniard, Jannik Sinner and others can accomplish both before and after Djokovic retires. Fifty years from now, there will be at least three or four players not yet born who may be authentic candidates for the G.O.A.T label. But there can be no doubt that Djokovic will leave tennis after a few more productive years knowing he has done everything he possibly could on the court to lead the vast majority of tennis critics toward classifying him as the preeminent tennis player of all time. His body of work is so voluminous that the likes of Alcaraz, Sinner— and the fellows who follow them— will all be exceedingly hard pressed to ever measure up to one Novak Djokovic.