ATP Finals final preview: Djokovic vs. Zverev

Who will lift the ATP Finals trophy on Sunday?

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and world No. 5 Alexander Zverev will square off in the championship final of the ATP Finals on Sunday in a match that could have big implications for both players.

First of all, Djokovic is trying to tie the record for most ATP Finals titles. The Serb is going for his sixth career title at the season-ending event, having won in Shanghai in 2008 and then another four straight years here in London from 2012 to 2015. Roger Federer has the current record with six.

“I’ve had plenty of success here. I’ve been very fortunate to play well here in the past and crown my seasons with a trophy here several times,” Djokovic said coming into this year’s tournament.

“Obviously making history in the sport that I truly love is an inspiration and a motivation.”

Djokovic, who has a 5-1 career record in ATP Finals finals—and a 72-32 career record in overall finals—is also trying to win this title without losing a set for the first time. He won all three of his round robin matches and his semifinal in straight sets (he’s held all 36 of his service games this week too).

The Serb could become the first player to win the ATP Finals without losing a set since Ivan Lendl achieved the feat 32 years ago in 1986—which was actually five months before Djokovic was born.

Zverev, meanwhile, will be going for the biggest title of his career. His biggest titles to date are three Masters 1000 titles (Rome and Canada last year and Madrid this year). He’s also trying to become the first German to win this title since Boris Becker achieved the feat 23 years ago in 1995.

The 21-year-old is also trying to beat a reigning world No. 1 for the first time in his career - his biggest win to date came against a world No. 2 (coincidentally, Djokovic in the final of Rome last year).

Since that first career meeting in Rome, Djokovic has won both of their meetings handily, 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals of Shanghai a few weeks ago and 6-4, 6-1 in the round robin stage here this week.

“I played really well in the group stage against him, but I don’t think he was close to his best, to be honest. He’s been playing really well in his last couple of matches,” Djokovic said of Zverev.

“Novak’s barely losing a match now,” Zverev said. “He hasn’t lost much in the last six months, winning both Grand Slams and most of the Masters 1000s. He’s probably the toughest opponent right now.”

Djokovic is 35-2 since the start of Wimbledon, which includes 14-0 against Top 10 players, but there’s one good omen for Zverev: this is the 18th time in ATP Finals history that two players who played each other in the round robin stage have played again in the final, and more than half the time in the previous 17 times this has happened, the loser has won the rematch (by a slim margin, nine to eight).

This Week on Tennis Channel:

ATP Finals (Sun - Sun 11.11 - 11.18) - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and the world's best collide in the season Finale. Live coverage begins on Tennis Channel Sunday at 7:00am EST.