Novak Djokovic Joins Carlos Alcaraz In Qualifying For ATP Finals

| by Nurein Ahmed

Novak Djokovic will return to Turin to defend his ATP Finals crown after securing his place among the world's elite eight at the season-ending championships for a 16th time.

Djokovic defeated aspiring Turin contender Taylor Fritz 6-0, 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters quarterfinals to meet the cut-off points (6,000) required to rank in the Top 8 of the ATP Race right now. The Serbian star is the second player to qualify for the prestigious end-of-season tournament joining World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic's participation at the showpiece in Italy will be the 16th time that he has qualified for the ATP Finals, tying former No. 1 Jimmy Connors in third place for the most qualifications. Since his debut appearance in 2007, Djokovic has only ever missed one edition of the Tournament, which was back in 2017 when he shut down his season in July due to an elbow injury.

Last year, Djokovic tied Roger Federer for the most titles at the ATP Finals when he defeated Norway's Casper Ruud in the championship match. By virtue of winning every single match during the week, Djokovic subsequently picked up the biggest prize pot in tennis history for a week's work - a staggering $4.7 million.

Djokovic Comes Another Step Closer To Alcaraz Clash By Reaching Cincinnati Semifinals
Djokovic Comes Another Step Closer To Alcaraz Clash By Reaching Cincinnati Semifinals

Djokovic could extend two records during the tail end of the season. He could win an unprecedented seventh ATP Finals crown, breaking his tie with Federer, whilst also extending his firm grip on the year-end No. 1 ranking. Djokovic, however, will need to eclipse Carlos Alcaraz in the live rankings.

The 36-year-old has the second-most wins at the ATP Finals with 46, behind only Federer who is on 59 wins. Djokovic has won three titles this year, with two of those coming at Grand Slam level. Although his bid for a Calendar Slam ended with defeat at the Wimbledon final, he'll be determined to win a record-equaling 24th major at the US Open next month.

How Djokovic Overcame Wimbledon Loss: Giving Kids Tennis Lessons While Vacationing In Croatia
How Djokovic Overcame Wimbledon Loss: Giving Kids Tennis Lessons While Vacationing In Croatia

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