Djokovic Honoured As Year-End No. 1: 'It's A Dream Of Every Player'

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Novak Djokovic was honoured in front of a packed Pala Alpitour on Monday afternoon for finishing ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone. ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi presented the Serbian with the coveted trophy for his accomplishment.

“Obviously it’s the crown of the season, finishing the year as No. 1 in the world,” said Djokovic, who owns a record eight year-end No. 1 finishes. “I think it’s a dream of every tennis player. It’s one of the most difficult things to do in our sport. Obviously winning Grand Slams and being No. 1 in the world are probably the pinnacles of the sport.

“It’s been a very long year for all the players and to be able to stand here is a blessing and I want to thank my team, who is here, my coaching staff, everybody, physiotherapist, fitness coach, Goran, Claudio, Marko, Miljan, Mark, Charlie, Carlos, everyone who has been on this road with me. It’s a team effort even though I’m standing by myself here on the court. But I can’t wait to be celebrating with them. This is a tremendous success and achievement and I’m very proud of it.”

Djokovic clinched the feat in the early moments of Monday morning when he defeated Holger Rune in their first Green Group match at the Nitto ATP Finals. It is the record-extending eighth time Djokovic has finished the year as World No. 1.

Two years ago, the Serbian set the record as the oldest ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone in history (since 1973) aged 34. This year, he has broken his own record aged 36.

Djokovic will continue his Nitto ATP Finals on Tuesday evening against home favourite Jannik Sinner as he tries to secure a record seventh title at the season finale.