Novak Djokovic recovers to see off Dominic Thiem in London

Djokovic began his title defence with a 6-7 (10/12) 6-0 6-2 victory over Dominic Thiem on Sunday.

Jamie, who was invited to the game by his good friend and Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, said: “Scotland did okay, they just didn’t take any of their chances they had at 1-0 and they lose three goals to headers”.

Murray’s motivation now is to improve on his dismal World Tour Finals record and ensure he consolidates his position at the top of the standings by ending the year as the No 1.

Djokovic has been in a slump since winning the French Open in June to complete his career Grand Slam, raising questions about his appetite for continued success.

“It was definitely not easy”.

Djokovic has now gotten his bid to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking from Andy Murray off to the right start.

By the decider he was playing better and Thiem was unable to wrest back the momentum.

The victor came through with 22 winners, and 25 unforced errors. The young Austrian has previously failed to take a set off him and faces an uphill task on his debut at the finals. But a pair of costly double faults eventually led to Djokovic leveling things at 6-all.

Novak Djokovic may still be struggling to rediscover the form that once saw him dominate the tour, but still he proved too strong for the challenge of Dominic Thiem in the opening match of the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday. But Djokovic then sent a lob just long that put things back level at 9-all.

Thiem would win a marathon opening extra session, taking it 12-10 thanks to this wicked forehand victor.

An attempt at a lobbed victor went wide, however, and Thiem was finally able to wrap up a set which lasted an hour and 16 minutes with a fine forehand into space.

The world No 2 was only hit with a warning after his projectile went in the direction of coaches Boris Becker and Marian Vadja.

After holding on during his first serving game, Thiem was broken in the second and there was always going to be one outcome from there on in.

Thiem displayed nerves in the first set but the Serbian could not capitalise before the Austrian wasted a break point opportunity at 5-5.

Thiem, unable to produce the same high level as earlier, quickly fell behind.

Murray overtook Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings last week and is locked in a battle with the Serb to see which of them ends the year as world number one. The Serb held, but Thiem soon pushed him to a tiebreak when Djokovic did the same back on serve.

Djokovic couldn’t break Thiem’s serve. It s going to be a good first match. He just played a good point. I got to the semi-finals one year and had a great match with Rafa [Nadal], I played really well and so I wasn’t disappointed.

“This year is the best I’ve had on court, the last few months have been the best in terms of my consistency”.