Novak Djokovic is nearing unprecedented territory in London.
Roger Federer hasn't done it. Rafael Nadal hasn't pulled it off. Neither did other season-ending titlists Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker or Pete Sampras. But if Djokovic wins the 2016 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which starts Sunday, he will become the first player in finale history (since 1970) to win five consecutive season-ending titles.
“The [Barclays ATP] World Tour Finals is the crown for all the achievements for all the best eight players in the world,” Djokovic said during his pre-tournament press conference. “I'm very happy that I'm one of them and have had an amazing last four years in The O2 arena, and I'm just hoping that I can carry on with the great results I've had here in the past.”
Djokovic has gone 18-1 during his four-peat in London, a run that includes wins against 2016 finale qualifiers Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori. Djokovic's only London loss came last year against Roger Federer during the round-robin stage, a straight-sets defeat he avenged by beating the Swiss during the final match of 2015.
Should the Serbian win a fifth consecutive London title, he'd also join Federer as the only players who have won six tournament titles overall. Djokovic is currently tied with Lendl and Sampras with five finale crowns.
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Another London title would also cap off another stellar year for the Serbian, despite a late-season dip per his all-time great standards. Djokovic has won seven tour-level titles this season, a mark he's eclipsed only two times in his career – 2011 (10) and 2015 (11). The 29 year old has also celebrated four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles, pushing his career haul to 30, the most of any player. He also won the first two Grand Slam championships of the season.
The second seed in London hasn't won a title since the Rogers Cup in July but it's a drop in play he's accepted as part of the game. “In sport, you can't always expect to win and of course the high standard of results and success that I've had in the last couple of years probably has taken its toll a little bit,” he said.
But Djokovic has coach Boris Becker by his side again in London and is enthused about the chance to make history. “We're both very excited about the last tournament of the year and trying to get as far as we can in this tournament and, as I said, finish off the season in the best possible style,” Djokovic said.
The 6' 2” right-hander starts his bid for a fifth consecutive Barclays ATP World Tour Finals crown at 2 p.m. GMT on Sunday against Dominic Thiem. Djokovic is 3-0 and a perfect 7-0 in sets against the 23-year-old London debutant. The two played twice earlier this season, during the Roland Garros semi-finals and the fourth round at the Miami Open presented by Itau.