Novak Djokovic’s dominance goes to another level when indoors at the ATP Finals

Celebrate the start of the ATP Tour Finals this Sunday at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy – unless you’re a tennis player not named Novak Djokovic. With a jaw-dropping 24 Grand Slam titles to his name and countless other records shattered, the 36-year-old world No 1 continues to dominate the sport. He’s your prohibitive favorite anywhere, anytime, regardless of the court or the weather.

A string of recent victories further underlines his awe-inspiring dominance, including three Grand Slam singles titles on clay and hard courts this year alone. He even came within a hair’s breadth of triumphing at Wimbledon. “He’s just better,” explained Paul Annacone, whose own experiences as a pro and as a coach make him one of the sport’s most sought-after voices.

But it’s when the battle heats up and the stakes are at their highest that Djokovic is at his absolute best. A record seventh victory at last week’s Paris Masters on an indoor hard court, despite an upset stomach and a far-from-perfect match, is proof enough of that. While everyone else sweats through their matches, Djokovic looks set for yet another glorious week in Italy.

What’s more, Djokovic remains unbeaten since July’s Wimbledon final, outclassing his opposition time and time again. His performance at last year’s ATP Tour Finals is even more astounding, the stuff of legends.

Crucially, advanced technology developed by British company, TennisViz, and supported by T.D.I, a joint venture of the ATP Tour and ATP Media, has given us a whole new way of analyzing tennis. Thanks to high-speed cameras, we now know exactly what makes a player effective or ineffective, attacking or defending, on every single shot. These metrics offer an unprecedented insight into players’ strengths and weaknesses, helping them and their coaches make game-changing decisions.

Turns out, Djokovic excelled on a whole new level at the ATP Tour Finals last year. He pushed the envelope, turning a 25 percent attacking position rate—one percentage point better than his competition—into a staggering 27 percent. Also, his serve was rated a sky-high 8.7, while his competition’s performance barely reached 8.1. His forehand, likewise, surpassed all competition. His best 9.4 smashed competition averages of 8.4. It’s not just Djokovic’s sheer skill that impresses. By mastering the art of stealing points—most notably, winning 57 percent of baseline battles—he’s a force to be reckoned with.

Yet challenges lurk for Djokovic. Despite serving more effectively than him this season and showing marked improvements, players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Zverev, and Holger Rune face an uphill battle against Djokovic’s ability to convert an advantage into a winning point.

The palpable air of competition and potential obstacles only fuels Djokovic’s drive. His enduring connection with the Italian crowd is no secret, resulting in six Italian Open wins. He comes to Turin in the wake of his 40th Masters 1000 tournament win, declaring, “I’m going there with good feelings, with a lot of confidence. You know, I haven’t lost a match since the Wimbledon final.” A statement that strikes fear into the hearts of his competition.

So, good luck to the other seven men in Turin holding rackets. They’re going to need it.

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Jessica Roberts

Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.