Nole eyes more after ATP Finals victory

TURIN: Novak Djokovic has no intention of slowing down after capping another incredible year with Sunday’s record-breaking seventh ATP Finals victory. The Serb swept aside local hero Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in Turin, leaving tennis fans wondering when he will relinquish his tennis dominance. Djokovic came into the Finals at the end of an age-defying year which has brought three Grand Slams, taking his total to an all-time best of 24, and a 40th Masters 1000 title. At 36 years old, Djokovic is still tennis’ No.1 player by some distance and he has racked up a host of new records this season, taking his Grand Slam tally to 24 and finishing top of the year-end world rankings for the eighth time. He swept past young pretenders Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner on his way to triumph in Turin and is gunning for more glory in 2024, when Paris hosts the one major event where he has not won — the Olympics. Asked what else he can accomplish in tennis, Djokovic joked: “Well, you can win four Slams and Olympic gold.” “I have always the highest ambitions and goals. That’s not going to be different for the next year, that’s for sure. The drive that I have is still there,” he added. “Motivation, especially for the biggest tournaments in sport, is still present. For me, obviously those are Grand Slams and Finals, and next year hopefully also Olympic Games.” The Olympics take place from July 26 to Aug 11 in the French capital, starting less than a fortnight after Wimbledon and finishing shortly before the US Open. It is a major career goal sandwiched into an already long, draining season, one which will take its toll on all the top players let alone one heading towards his late 30s. “It is definitely one of the major goals for next year, other than Grand Slams,” said Djokovic. “It’s going to be very congested schedule with going from the slowest to the fastest surface in sport back to the slowest. Clay, grass, clay, then hard court. Obviously that’s a very demanding, challenging stretch of the year.” Vanquished finalist Sinner hailed Djokovic as an “inspiration” during the trophy ceremony.