By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 10, 2019
A ruthless Novak Djokovic broke five times destroying debutant Matteo Berrettini 6-2, 6-1 in his ATP Finals opener in London.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
There is a time and place for everything.
Facing five-time champion Novak Djokovic in his ATP Finals debut at the O2 Arena in London was not the time or place for Matteo Berrettini.
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A ruthless Djokovic shredded the big man's serve with razor-sharp returns breaking five times demolishing Berrettini 6-2, 6-1 in the Bjorn Borg group opener of round-robin play.
Empowered by his run to his fifth Rolex Paris Masters championship last week, a dominant Djokovic turned today's opener into a declaration of intent in his quest to surpass world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and regain the season-ending top spot for a record-equaling sixth time.
It was Djokovic's 36th ATP Finals victory tying his former coach, Boris Becker, for third place on the all-time list. And served as an important first step as the second-seeded Serbian must at least reach the final to have a shot of supplanting Nadal at the top.
Playing bruising baseline combinations, Djokovic left the ATP Finals debutant looking dazed and confused breaking serve five times in a row to ignite an eight-game run in a commanding performance.
"It was not easy for him," Djokovic told Annabel Croft afterward. "Obviously, playing his first Tour Finals match I knew he was probably going to be a bit more nervous in the beginning. So I tried to use the experience and obviously right tactics to perform well.
"I was fortunate to get the break midway through the first set and after that I started to read his serve better. Obviously, he has big weapons with serve and forehand, but I just managged to play really, really solid through the whole match."
It was Djokovic's 11th opening-match win at the season-ending event as he improved his 2019 record to 54-9.
The second seed must reach the final to have a shot to surpass Nadal for the top spot and Djokovic wasted no time taking charge applying his superior speed around the court, sniper return and a stinging serve to befuddle the eighth seed.
One of three former champions in the field, Djokovic drilled an ace down the T to open with a love hold.
The first Italian man to contest the season-ending finale since 1978 was understandably jittery at the outset but held through his first two service games.
The five-time champion was sharp on serve at the outset landing his first serve with vigor and finishing two of his first three holds with aces for 3-2.
Racing up quickly to a net-cord shot, Djokovic deadened a drop shot winner then earned double break point when Berrettini scattered a shot wide.
The Serbian's spinning, acrobatic backhand flick from behind the baseline prolonged the point before Berrettini bashed an easy forehand into net covering his face with his hands at the gaffe as Djokovic broke for 4-2. That break sparked a spiral from which Berrettini never recovered.
The depth of Djokovic's returns backed the big-hitting Italian up behind the baseline. Berrettini smothered successive backhands into net as Djokovic banged out his second straight break to cap the 30-minute opening set on a four-game run.
The Wimbledon winner did not drop a point on his second serve in a strong opening set that had coaches Marian Vajda and Goran Ivanisevic standing and applauding in support.
Djokovic stamped his second love hold to start the second set.
By then, Djokovic's baseline oppression saw him win 20 of the last 24 points.
Quick court conditions at the O2 Arena play to Djokovic's strengths. Djokovic is more balanced off backhand and forehand than his opponent, is a much smoother mover and his skill ripping drives on the rise saw him seize offense early in rallies.
"I've been enjoying the conditions here in this court for many, many years," Djokovic said. "I've been blessed to play this tournament for many years in a row and won it more than a couple of times. Of course it's very suitable to my style of game.
"It's never easy to play a big server like Matteo or Sasha Zverev or any of the young guys that are really big. So you better rely on your return. And I've been fortunate to have good return throughout my career."
Cumulative pressure from the world No. 2 caused Berrettini to crack again. Every time the Italian unloaded on his forehand, Djokovic ripped resounding answers right back.
Unable to hit through the Serbian, Berrettini spit up a double fault to donate the third straight break.
Berrettini owns one of the biggest forehands in the field, but Djokovic dismantled the Italian's lethal weapon playing hard and wide to the forehand then angling deep backhand drives forcing his opponent to defend his weaker wing on the run.
The 23-year-old Italian sailed a backhand long to face another break point.
Opening the court with a crackling backhand down the line, Djokovic again stretched the big man to his weaker wing rattling out another error for a commanding 4-0 lead.
Extending his streak to eight straight games, a dominant Djokovic gave the last man to qualify for the event no breathing room shrinking space for Berrettini to strike.
Finally, Berrettini stemmed the bleeding cracking a couple of biting returns and drawing a stray backhand to earn his first break for 1-4.
That was a temporary reprieve.
Curling a crosscourt forehand into the corner, Djokovic created his fifth consecutive break for 5-1.
Zapping a diagonal forehand brough the Serbian to double match point. Djokovic spun a forehand into the open court scoring his 11th straight ATP Finals opening win in a 63-minute thrashing.
A significant step for a man trying to march toward history.