Novak Djokovic is cementing his name in tennis history, added his 101st career title to his ledger, after a difficult match with Lorenzo Musetti at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship in Athens. After 3 hours of tennis, Djokovic came back after losing a set, to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 ending Musetti’s hope to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic makes more history with 72nd hard-court title
With the victory, Djokovic won his 72nd tour-level hard-court title, breaking Roger Federer’s record for most hard-court trophies in the Open Era. The 38-year-old once again proved to be in a class of his own regarding stamina and mental toughness as he sealed yet another chapter in an already legendary career.
“This was an incredible battle, three hours of pure intensity,” said Djokovic. “It could’ve gone either way. Lorenzo played amazing tennis, and I’m really proud of myself for staying strong until the end.”
Musetti Misses out in Attempt to Qualify for Turin
A double blow to Lorenzo Musetti, too: the 22-year-old Italian had to win the Athens final to leap over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the ATP Race to Turin and grab a spot in the season-ending ATP Finals.
Musetti had previously saved a match point in his semifinal victory over Sebastian Korda, and began his match against Djokovic with confidence, winning the first set.
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Ultimately, the match turned on Djokovic’s machine-like work from the baseline and some clutch serves. The final set featured five service breaks and 13 break point opportunities, as the two men pushed themselves to the limits of their physical fitness before the Serbian prevailed.
Djokovic vs Musetti: Experience Over Youth
It was Djokovic’s composure that ultimately told at the critical junctures, whereas Musetti failed to sustain momentum in these moments. Further disappointment for the Italian was his sixth successive defeat in an ATP Tour final.
“Novak, there’s not much left to say about your career,” Musetti said after the match. “You are still showing, even at your age, that you can dominate us all. Every time I face you, I learn something new so thank you for that.”
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Djokovic now leads their ATP Head2Head 9-1, underlining the gap in experience between the two players.
Novak Djokovic’s Legacy Continues to Grow
Now 38 years old, Novak Djokovic continues to provide the definition of consistency and longevity in men’s tennis. His latest trophy has only added to his remarkable collection, and continued to answer the question that we sometimes ask ourselves: where does he rank among the greatest ever to play the game?
This 101st career title also brings Djokovic one step closer to becoming only the 4th male player in history to amass over 100 career titles along with Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. His relentless pursuit of excellence continues to inspire his fans and intimidate his competitors on the ATP Tour.
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