Novak Djokovic takes the trophy that accredits him as number one at the end of the course as one who takes a child in his arms. The Serbian, who has solved the premiere against the debutant Casper Rudd after a tricky first set and a continuation almost at pleasure (7-6 (4) and 6-2), kisses the metal and elevates it proud because, at last And after all, he says so, he competes to win it all and this is the seventh time he will end the year at the top of the ranking. That is to say, another record in the pocket.

His first speech in Turin, after 12 years at the London headquarters, leaves the same good mark left by his time in Paris-Bercy last week, although he slides a phrase that generates confusion in the parliament of rigor – “I hope to play You are still a couple of years old ”- and then he corrects in front of the journalists:“ I wanted to say that I hope to be able to play two years at the highest level; I think I can do it and it would be great. Don’t have a date [para la retirada] in my mind, but I don’t want to set limits. I am number one and I have no reason to think about the possibility of quitting ”.

Chest out Nole, who at 34 bursts into this edition as the undisputed rival to beat, beyond Daniil Medvedev defending the title obtained a year ago and the Russian knocking him down in the final of the US Open and refuting him with firm last week at Bercy. Without Rafael Nadal (left foot injury) or Roger Federer (right knee), he sets the pace in a tournament that has significantly lowered the average age, now surrounded by seven twenty-somethings Serbian: Medvedev (25), Berrettini (25 ), Zverev (24), Rublev (24), Hurkacz (24), Tsitsipas (23) and Ruud (22).

Winner of three greats, two other tournaments (Belgrade and Bercy) and having recovered the record in the Masters 1000, with 37 celebrations, the Balkan yesterday equaled the number of wins (39) of Ivan Lendl in the Masters, so he only has ahead of Federer (59). The Swiss, precisely, is his great goal, since today Nole only thinks about proclaiming himself champion on Sunday and thus equaling the record of six crowns. “I reach a great level,” he warned in the run-up to the tournament. And he again endorsed it before the debutant Ruud.

“I thought that after the US Open it would not be the same, because a defeat like that could have been with me, with McEnroe, Borg and many other players. He is superhuman ”, expressed the Swede Mats Wilander through Eurosport, while Nole savored his latest award on Monday and the night before, loudly, the qualification of Serbia for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, after solving his debut, he was asked about the recent success of the Murcian Carlos Alcaraz in the Masters Cup of promises, and he did not skimp: “What he has achieved this year is impressive and historic. He is very young and already is top-30He has won in Milan and has shown great maturity for an 18-year-old. It’s incredible how he plays and also his behavior off the court ”.

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