LONDON, November 18, 2018
Alexander Zverev celebrated the biggest title of his career by winning the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals. The 21-year-old edged past World No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 in Sunday’s title match.
Zverev became the first player at this year’s tournament to break Djokovic’s serve in the ninth game of the first set. The German No. 1 served three aces in the following to secure the opening set after 39 minutes.
Zverev started the second set with another break, winning an incredibly lenghty rally with a magnificent forehand up the line, however, lost his serve in the following after a wild service game from the youngster. Djokovic netted a forehand in the third game and Zverev was back up a break and eventually converted his second match point with a backhand winner after one hour and 20 minutes.
What a moment!
Here’s how Alexander Zverev won the 2018 #NittoATPFinals title… pic.twitter.com/Fj8CDJr6Ps
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 18. November 2018
“Obviously it’s not great to lose a tennis match, especially in the finals of a big tournament. Quite disappointed with my game,” Djokovic said. “But I’m happy that he won the big title because we have a really good and friendly relationship. We reside in the same place. We train a lot. We see each other a lot. He comes from a really nice family.”
Zverev is the first player to beat both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the same ATP Finals. Zverev’s also the first player to beat the Top 2 seeds in the semis and final of the event since Andre Agassi in 1990.
“I am unbelievably happy,” Zverev said. “This is the biggest title I have won. I want to congratulate Novak on a great week and how you played in the second half of the season. You barely lost a match. We have never seen it before. I am actually very happy you lost one this week!
“This trophy means a lot, everything, to all the players. I mean, you only have so many chances of winning it. You play against the best players only. How I played today, how I won it, for me it’s just amazing.”
Bryan/Sock take doubles crown
Earlier in the afternoon, Mike Bryan and Jack Sock took the doubles crown. The No. 5 seeded US-Americans fought past Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 5-7, 6-1, 13-11. The exciting final ended with a doubles fault from Herbert after one hour and 31 minutes.
CHAMPIONS 🏆@JackSock and @Bryanbrothers win the 2018 #NittoATPFinals title after beating Herbert & Mahut 5-7 6-1 13-11! pic.twitter.com/Hp0PtcJIC9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 18. November 2018
“This is how you want to start a partnership and end one,” said Bryan, who began to team up with Sock at the Fever-Tree Championships in June. “To win here is just an epic experience. To finish a great year off the right way, winning here, against some of the best teams in the world. The way we did, it went down to the wire. It was pretty exciting.
“[I have had] unreal memories with Jack this year. We’re kind of closing the book on our partnership because Bob is coming back. But we’re always going to be great friends and hang out in the off-season. We’re going to spend the off-season together training.”
Having ended Group Knowles/Nestor with a 2-1 record, Bryan and Sock receive 1,300 ATP Doubles Rankings points and will share $479,000. Herbert and Mahut earn 800 points and split $279,000.
“I didn’t have a great year in singles,” Sock said. “But I think any success on the court is a positive. I think without the doubles success this year, I don’t know where my head would be right now mentally, where I’d feel about the sport.
“I’ve been in some low places this year. Guys like Mike, being on the court, my team, his team, my family, my friends, have tried to keep my head up and keep some positive energy around me.”
