Djokovic wins opening match at ATP finals, beats Thiem in 3

Thiem had won 21 out of his 23 matches that required a final set this year, but none of those came against Djokovic and the Serb kept his foot on the gas to win the third set in emphatic fashion. But Djokovic then sent a lob just long that put things back level at 9-all.

It has been a spectacular rise, with Murray more than 8,000 points behind Djokovic in June, but Bjorkman is not surprised to see the Scot on top of the pile. The world number nine wasted six set points and saved one before finally sending shockwaves around the arena to take it 12-10.

It was all downhill for Thiem, however, after that.

Before the start of play, Djokovic was a combined 23-0 against his group opponents, and 3-0 against Thiem including their Roland Garros semifinal, whom he had yet to lose a set to. In the quarterfinals, the world number two was two points from defeat against Mischa Zverev, but the Serb survived and triumphed 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3. “I just hope that I can continue with my good form”.

“After the French Open, it wasn’t something I was thinking about, it was so far away so I was just focusing on the next tournament, I wasn’t concentrating on the rankings”.

“You guys are unbelievable”, he said in the post match interaction when asked if he was concerned about the potential penalty for an incident where the ball went flying towards the stands.

“I knew after that, the first games of the second set would be crucial for me to start with a break up, which I did”. I felt more comfortable.

“When I step on the court I will have a little more confidence and feel better about myself”.

“I didn’t want to let him start off the second set well”.

“It was unbelievable to play on this great stage, I’m exhausted and a little empty, but I can not wait to play the second match”.

I’d be tempted to take Djokovic on if his first match wasn’t against a young player on debut who says: “It’s been a dream since my childhood to qualify for the ATP Finals”.

Which is why the 29-year-old Scot will be the man to beat next week as he attempts to win the ATP World Tour Finals for the first time to seal the year-end number one ranking.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Tour Finals for the last three years, Wawrinka would love to go one better this year. Thiem won just 10 points in the set.

“But then it so happened that I ended up winning a lot of the tournaments and Novak didn’t play his best, and I managed to do it this year”. He was playing well.

Djokovic: I keep doing these things? I think he has made 11 grand slam finals which is an insane achievement.

“The crowd was very nice”. I didn’t think the atmosphere was quite what I expected really. “I’m still not suspended, so if I’m not close, I’m not close”, he said.

“But I’m still here, and I feel like I’m on the right path”.

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. “Compared to the last few tournaments, it was a very good match for me today”.

Djokovic begins his quest for a sixth ATP Finals and the return to No. 1 tomorrow starting Sunday against debutant Dominic Thiem.