Novak Djokovic v Holger Rune – Day 1 result from the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals as Djokovic wins in Turin to end the year as No.1 for the eighth time

With his 14th ATP top 10 win of 2023, Novak Djokovic has equalled Roger Federer for the most top 10 wins in a calendar year among players aged 35+ since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973.

The defending champion Djokovic’s quest for a stand-alone record SEVENTH ATP Tour finals title gets off to as solid start as he edges out debutant Rune in a hard-fought, top-class encounter.

The Serb serves it out to love to get on the board in Green Group after a fun three hours and four minutes on court.

The victory also means the 24-time Grand Slam champion will end the year as World No.1 for a record-extending EIGHTH time and sees him take the lead 3-2 in the H2H match-up with the 20-year-old Dane.

Rune hangs tough on a hold to 30 and nods towards Becker as he moves into now or never territory on the return.

Djokovic will serve for the match.

There’s another suggestion of a wobble from Djokovic as he coughs up a fourth double fault, but it’s a false dawn as the Serb keeps it together to consolidate with a relatively routine hold in the end.

He’s one away now as Holger vents his frustration at the umpire.

Djoker turns the screw with a couple of venomous returns but Rune fends off break point with a wonderful combination of bold drop-shot and clinical crosscourt volley.

The Dane goes for it again, but this time Djokovic is ready and it’s the Serb who volleys away the winner to snare a second BP opportunity.

Another gutsy rally ensues but this time the Scandinavian can’t wriggle out of dodge as his huge crosscourt forehand on the run flashes just wide.

Djokovic’s internal volcano was spewing lava out of control for a few moments there, but he manages to get it under control to reset and nudge the board again with a much-needed hold to 15.

Djokovic has made a habit of running away with deciding sets over the years, particularly when securing an early break.

This match didn’t deserve that given how well contested it has been and Rune has certainly found another gear.

The No.8 seed powers through a hold to love to consolidate with aplomb and the outcome of the match is back in the balance.

What a response!

So often Djokovic is the man who hits straight back, but this time Rune gives him a taste of his own medicine.

The Serb double faults for 15-30 and is then staring down the barrel at 15-40 when the Dane produces a sumptuous stun volley.

Rune then miscues a forehand ever so slightly and it drops onto the back of the baseline.

Djoker challenges to no avail and earns a code violation for smashing up his racquet in disgust.

That’s why he is such an outstanding champion.

Djokovic locks in on the return, benefitting from a clear dip in Rune’s standards to rake a backhand up the line that lures the error for triple break point.

Holger snares one back with a clinical forehand but a double fault gift wraps the early break on the second and after all of the Dane’s hard work, he allows Nole to take an immediate stranglehold of this third set.

There’s no hangover from that Tie-break meltdown as Djokovic powers through the opening game of the decider to claim the scoreboard advantage.

It’s another decider in this rivalry as Djoker makes another poor error that is almost accepting that this TB is gone and Rune eases through the breaker by a 7-1 scoreline.

Well, who saw this one coming? Djokovic didn’t make one unforced error in the first-set TB, but he blows a simple forehand from close-in way off court and doesn’t seem to recover.

Rune stays rock solid but doesn’t have to do anything special as the top seed implodes.

The Dane needs one point to force the decider following the change of ends.

There’s no late twist as Djokovic clouts down aces seven and eight to ease into the breaker with a focused game to 15.

Rune cancels out a fifth double fault to trail 15-30 with his 15th ace overall to level up.

A delicious one-two punch via a sweeping backhand earns him game point but he never looks capable of gaining control of a bruising rally and a weak backhand under the cosh slaps into the net to allow Djokovic to press from deuce.

The Serb has the point on his racquet for BP but outstanding defence from Rune catches Nole out with a short stun volley before another steal with a half volley up the line somehow sees the 20-year-old secure the minimum of a tire break.

Djokovic is almost his own worst enemy with a pair of loose errors, including a trademark backhand down the line that flashes way wide into the tramlines.

A beauty of a volley on the charge to the net drags him to 30-30 but Rune corks a brutal winner to notch up set point.

A very timely clutch serve sees the Serbinator make deuce before he forces the error off a deep forehand. Rune can’t keep the heat from there as a backhand whistles into the tramlines and we are level once more.

The Dane slams down a 14th ace along with more clutch serving to deny Djoker much to chew on. It’s another solid game to 30 and ensures he applies the scoreboard pressure.

Nole will now serve to stay in the set.

It’s another enjoyable spectacle of a game with Rune pushing hard via a crunching forehand to make 30-30.

Djokovic goes to the serve and volley tactic to gain control of the situation before an ace down the T ties it at four apiece.