On Sunday, Novak Djokovic defeated Norway's Casper Ruud 7-5 6-3 to win his sixth ATP Finals championship.
As a consequence, Djokovic won the largest payment in tennis history – $4,740,300 — for going undefeated in the season-ending event.
In front of a raucous crowd, Djokovic secured victory with his ninth ace, claiming the trophy for the first time since 2015.
"You have to be concentrated the whole match, every single point, because momentum can shift to the opposite side pretty rapidly," the Serbian remarked after the game in a televised interview.
"The fact that I waited seven years makes this triumph much sweeter," he said as he equaled Roger Federer's season-ending collection of six trophies.
Ruud, 23, had the finest year of his career in 2022, going toe-to-toe with the 21-time major champion early on.
But he made two unforced mistakes at the conclusion of the opening set, handing Djokovic the break.
Djokovic accelerated from there, using his powerful forehand to break Ruud in the fourth game of the second set.
In a 36-shot last rally, the Norwegian hurled all he could at the veteran, but the Wimbledon winner was just too sharp.
He outlasted his opponent in the long exchange to win the championship with his arms outstretched.
The 35-year-old Djokovic is the event's oldest winner, and he acknowledged the competition did not leave him untouched following a difficult three-set thriller against Russian Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.
"It wasn't easy to recover and play well in the semi-finals in less than 24 hours after that match," he told reporters.
"It's an internal war because there's always one voice saying you 'you can't do it, you're too weary, this and that,' right?" The villain and the hero You're attempting to feed the good man."
After a year of ups and downs, Djokovic finishes the season on a high note.
He was unable to defend his Australian Open title in January because he was deported from the country for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
His attitude also banned him from participating in the United States this year, including at the season's last major, the U.S. Open.
"I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off since I've been on pins and needles for the whole year, whether it was for competitions or waiting for permits to travel elsewhere."
"So, I'm extremely delighted I was able to conclude it on a good note," added Djokovic, who won his eighth Wimbledon crown in July.
Ruud's breakthrough year came to an end with a loss.
The Norwegian had previously reached the finals at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, but had finished second.
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