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Bear in mind the times when a peaking Novak Djokovic would rip of his shirt after insane battles, an indication of his invincibility and insatiable need to create historical past in our sport?
The years have ticked on, however that fireplace stays.
Djokovic took out Lorenzo Musetti in a fiery two hour and 59-minute battle on Saturday in Athens, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, for his a hundred and first profession title. When the battle was over, he tore the shirt off his again as the group went wild in Athens.
What a second for Djokovic, who turns into the oldest title winner in ATP historical past, at 38 years and 5 months.
The 24-time main champion is 2 titles shy of matching Roger Federer’s 103, and eight behind Jimmy Connors’ all-time report of 109 ATP titles. He improved to 1163-233 lifetime along with his win.
“Nonetheless at your age, you might be kicking ass, like mine in the present day, however each time I step on court docket towards you and I share the court docket with you, I take it as a lesson, so thanks for that,” Musetti informed the 38-year-old through the trophy presentation.
Musetti might have vaulted previous Felix Auger-Aliassime because the final qualifier for subsequent week’s Nitto ATP Finals with a win. As an alternative he’ll go to Turin as one of many two alternates, if Djokovic, decides to play.
Sky Sports activities has already posted that Djokovic is electing to tug out of the ATP Finals, and if that’s certainly the case, each Musetti and Auger-Aliassime will qualify.
“I do know it’s a tricky feeling to just accept proper now,” Djokovic informed Musetti. “If there’s something constructive to remove it’s that your degree of tennis has been unbelievable all week. Particularly in the present day, actually I performed you a lot occasions on completely different surfaces, actually your enchancment on exhausting court docket is wonderful. Maintain it going, you might be on the precise path and I’m positive your future is vivid.”
It was a back-and-forth tussle that featured top quality tennis from each gamers. Musetti, bidding to qualify for the ATP Finals and hoping to snap a five-match dropping streak in ATP finals, began stronger, executing a break for 2-1 and making it rise up in a crisp opening set.
However Djokovic turned up the warmth within the center set, and ultimately his efforts have been rewarded with a break for 5-3. He then saved a break level whereas serving for the set and closed it out to drive a decider two factors later.
There have been two trades of breaks in a topsy turvy remaining set, with Djokovic main by a break twice earlier than being reeled again in by the 23-year-old Italian. Lastly Djokovic transformed his fourth break level of the eleventh sport to take a 6-5 lead.
He held at love to shut out the title.
Oldest ATP Tour Champions (for the reason that ATP Tour was established in 1990):
Novak Djokovic 38Y 5M 2025 Athens (d. Musetti)
Gael Monfils 38Y 4M 2025 Auckland (d. Bergs)Roger Federer 38Y 2M 2019 Basel (d. de Minaur)Novak Djokovic 38Y 2D 2025 Geneva (d. Hurkacz)Roger Federer 37Y 10M 2019 Halle (d. Goffin)Feliciano Lopez 37Y 9M 2019 London/Queen’s Membership (d. Simon)
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