Novak Djokovic is looking for a “perfect ending” to 2022 in Turin, while Rafael Nadal does not need extra motivation to win the ATP Finals for the first time in his legendary career.
Nadal made a personal-best start to 2022, winning 20 straight matches and lifting the Australian Open title.
However, he has only played once since the US Open due to becoming a father for the first time and recuperating from injuries.
Still, at the age of 36, Nadal is grateful to still be getting a crack at finally ticking off the ATP Finals on his impressive list of accomplishments.
“I try my best in every single event. That’s true. Doesn’t matter if I won it [in the past] or not,” Nadal, a two-time runner-up, said at an ATP media day prior to the tournament in Turin.
“When I enter a tennis tournament, I want to win and I’m going to try my best to achieve that goal. Here I was not able to make it, I was not good enough to make it in the past.
“So I just accept that and I’m happy to give myself another chance at the age of 36 — something, for me, that was difficult to imagine years ago.
“Of course it’s going to be a challenge, but I hope I will be ready to give myself a chance. That’s what I am looking for, just practising as good as possible with the right attitude and just trying to be ready for the action that’s going to start on Sunday.”
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Djokovic’s season has been a complicated one. Absent from the Australian and US Opens due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19, the Serbian great did triumph at Wimbledon, but there were no ranking points on offer at SW19.
He has slipped to eighth in the rankings as a result but does have four titles to his name in 2022 and Djokovic is eyeing a record-equalling sixth ATP Finals title and first since 2015.
“It would be a perfect ending,” Djokovic said.” The cherry on the cake, for sure, but it’s a long way. It’s a long week.
“You’ve got to play the best players in the world. You have to play more or less everyone in this tournament at least once, so I look forward to it.
“I’ve had experience in this tournament, in this format, many times and hopefully that can serve me in a good way.”
