Novak Djokovic fights back to secure victory against Dominic Thiem

The Serbian, who knows he can still end the year as world number one by lifting the trophy for a fifth straight time in London, was forced to fight hard as he came from behind to clinch a 6-7 6-0 6-2 victory.

Thiem, who is the youngest participant at the end of year showpiece event at 23, showed just why he has been identified as a next generation star of the future with some powerhouse tennis in a tense first set that lasted one hour and seven minutes.

The Austrian rarely troubled the Djokovic serve but dug in several times on his own to show no nerves and force what turned out to be a truly pulsating tie break. The world number nine wasted six set points and saved one before finally sending shockwaves around the arena to take it 12-10.

Thiem had not beaten Djokovic in their previous three meetings but normal service was resumed in a second set of real contrast. Djokovic broke in the first game and never looked back as he claimed a bagel inside 23 minutes.

The Serbian had received a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct for slapping a ball in the direction of his team after losing the first-set tie break and it seemed to spark him into life.

The momentum was clearly with the world number two and he broke in the third and seventh games of the decider before serving it out to love as he looks to recapture his top form this week and wrestle the number one ranking away from Andy Murray.