ATP Finals, in Turin, LIVE: Djokovic and Ruud define the title of ‘master’ minute by minute

Novak Djokovic Y Casper Ruud will clash this Sunday in the final of Turin ATP Finalsthe last event of the tennis season, and they will try to win a crown that will redeem them after a less fortunate 2022 than they expected, for different reasons.

The 35-year-old Serbian is seeded seventh in the tournament but comes as heavy favorites to go into the final from 15 in Argentina with ESPN3 television-, since they won every match on their way to this definition, exhibiting superiority over their Greek rivals Stephen Tsitsipas and the Russians Daniel Medvedev Y Andre Rublev -who he faced in the Italian round- and the revelation of the tournament, the American Taylor Fritzwhom he beat 7-6 (7-5) and 7-6 (8-6) in a tough semi-final.

23rd seed and 3rd seed Ruud got off to an ideal start, with wins over the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Fritz, but, with his second stage place secured, lost in his final group match to a Rafael Nadal already eliminated, who beat him in straight sets. Although he showed great form against Rublev in the semifinals, in a duel he settled 6-2, 6-4 in just an hour and 5 minutes.

Freight He will be playing in the final of the tournament for the eighth time – his last appearance in the deciding instance was in 2018, when he lost to the German Alexander Zverev– and will have a chance to make history. First of all because it could equal the Swiss record Roger Federer, first winner of the “Masters Tournament” with six titles. The Serbian won it in 2008, when he was still officially known as Masters Cup– and consecutively between 2012 and 2015.

But also because he could win the highest prize in tennis history: if he were to lift the trophy, he would pocket $4,740,300, a figure that will exceed that given by any of the Slams for the first time.

But a victory will have a much more than economic value for the Serbian, because it will allow him to end the strangest season of his career with a smile, marked by controversy off the field for his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19a decision that left him out of the Australian Openthe US Open and the Masters 1000’s Indian Wells, You love me, Montreal Y cincinnati; and relegated him to the eighth step of the standings.

Ruud will be playing in the final of the competition for the first time – he will be the first Scandinavian to do so after the Swede Stephen Edberg in 1990-, in what is his second participation. And he will aim for the most important title of his career, to pull the plug for the defeats suffered this year in the decisive duels between the French and American “big” teams in the hands of two Spaniards. In Paris, the Norwegian fell against Nadal, and in New York – against Carlos Alcaraz.

Already consolidated among the best, the native of Oslo and this year’s champion in Buenos Aires, will also go for an extra prize: if he calls himself champion in Turin, he will oust Nadal and end the season on the second step of the standings, like La escort of Alcaraz.

Djokovic commands the head-to-head record, with three wins in as many games. The second of these celebrations took place in the group stage of the last edition of the ATP Finals, on the same field where they will be protagonists of the season finale this Sunday. In this 2022 they met in the semifinals in Rome, with a victory for Nole in straight sets.