Jannik Sinner thanks the booing crowd for helping him defeat Novak Djokovic at the 2023 ATP Finals

Sinner has won his first 2 matches in the group stage round at the Nitto ATP Finals.

Jannik Sinner thanks the booing crowd for helping him defeat Novak Djokovic at the 2023 ATP Finals

Jannik Sinner (Image via: Reuters)

Seeded at No. 4 at the ongoing ATP Finals tournament, Vienna Open winner, Jannik Sinner beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in his round of 4 match to secure his entry into the semi-finals with two wins. The Italian ace, who was playing in his home ground in Italy, later, thanked the crowd in the stands at Turin’s Pala Alpitour for their unwavering support.

US Open champion Djokovic has had an exceptional run this season. The 36-year-old recently claimed his career’s 8th year-end #1 ranking after he demolished Holger Rune in the first match of the robin-round stage. Sinner demolished Djokovic, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 to hand the player his first defeat since he failed to defend his title from Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

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In a press conference following the match, Sinner acknowledged the crowd for their help. The player revealed that though he had expected a challenging match against Djokovic, the support he received from the crowd made things easier for him.

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It's a great privilege for me to play here in Turin...I tried to put everything in the right direction and when things go like this and there is an Italian playing, the atmosphere becomes truly wonderful.

Sinner, who beat World No.3 Daniil Medvedev in both the finals of the China Open and the Vienna Open, is in immaculate form. With 2 wins out of the 3 matches in the group stage format, Sinner will become one of the two players from the green group to move on to the next round. The 22-year-old will square off against Rune in his next match.

Jannik Sinner ‘happy’ to play against Novak Djokovic

Sinner recently registered his first victory against Djokovic after he beat him in the second match of the robin round at the ongoing event in Turin. Previously, the two had locked horns at Wimbledon where Djokovic beat the Italian in straight sets to claim a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win in the semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via: Imago)

Following his latest match win, the 22-year-old told the media that he was happy to have had the opportunity to play against the Serbian ace. 

I'm happy to be able to be part of this. Putting all the circumstances together, playing in Turin against the number one who has won 24 Slams, we can say that this is the top.

The China Open winner further revealed that he would have felt good even if he had not won the match. Sinner shared that staying close to Djokovic’s game and giving the 36-year-old a good fight was what the Italian had been striving for.

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