The tennis legend Novak Djokovic (5th in the world) beat the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (9th) this Saturday in the final of the ATP 250 in Athens to win his 101st title on the ATP circuit at the age of 38.
Winner by 4-6, 6-3 and 7-5 after an exciting fight of almost three hoursthe former world number 1 is now just two titles away from his old rival Roger Federer’s 103 and eight titles away from American Jimmy Connors’ record 109 trophies.
At 38 years and five months, the icon with 24 Grand Slam titles He is the oldest tournament winner since Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 43 when he won in Hong Kong in 1977.
Djokovic had not won a title since his victory in May at the ATP 250 in Geneva (clay court).
By dominating Musetti for the ninth time in ten meetings, the Serbian deprived the Italian of a first participation in the ATP Masters in Turinwhich will bring together starting Sunday the eight players who have accumulated the most ATP points in the season.
Musetti was obliged to win the title in Athens to take the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Masters from Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Djokovic has already been classified for Turin for a long timebut remains uncertain until the last moment about his participation in the prestigious end-of-season tournament.
Directed by Djordje Djokovic, Novak’s younger brother, the tournament won this Saturday by the Serbian was initially to be organized in Belgrade, as in 2024.
But the ATP announced in August that The tournament would finally be held in Athenswithout specifying the reasons for this relocation.
“Despite tireless efforts, the conditions required to organize the tournament in the planned format and on the planned date could not be guaranteed,” reads the official site of the Belgrade Tournament.
On social media, photos of Djokovic in Greece have multiplied in recent months, even appearing alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In Serbia, the prodigal son of Belgrade He has long avoided making political comments.but in recent months he has expressed his support on several occasions for the students who have been demonstrating against the government and President Aleksandar Vucic for a year.
These positions have caused him to fall into disgrace with the Serbian authorities and have earned him the target of tabloids known for their closeness to power.
