ATP: Djokovic puts on a show, Tien breaks through

Djokovic finishes the season in style

During his extraordinary career, Novak Djokovic has collected 24 Grand Slam titles, 7 ATP Finals crowns, 40 Masters 1000 trophies and an Olympic gold medal. With such a record - the most complete in the Open Era - his latest ATP 250 title might seem like a footnote. But it is not.

For one thing, the man who has spent a record 428 weeks at the top of the rankings now resides just outside Athens and has just won a tournament on “home” soil, directed by none other than his brother, Djordje. Beyond the symbol, the victory was historic in its own right: Djokovic claimed his 72nd career title on hard courts, equalling Roger Federer’s record, and his 101st overall, moving within two trophies of the Swiss (103) and eight of Jimmy Connors (109).

Most importantly, he fought tooth and nail to earn it. In a thrilling, near three-hour battle, the 38-year-old overcame the world No.9 (4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in 2h59). “An incredible battle… Three hours of a gruelling match, physically,” Djokovic said afterward. “It could have been anybody's match, so congrats to Lorenzo for an amazing performance. I’m just very proud of myself to get through this one.”

The effort and spirit on display were another reminder that Djokovic is nowhere near done. At 38, he has remained among the elite, reaching the semifinals at all four Grand Slams this year and compiling a 39-11 record. While the road to a 25th major title (his ultimate goal) looks increasingly difficult with the new Big Two in ascendance, it would be unwise to count him out just yet.

If there’s one question mark, it’s his physical condition. What was once one of Djokovic’s greatest strengths may now be his biggest concern. Shortly after his victory, he announced his withdrawal from Turin. “I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury," Djokovic explained on social media. "I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play, your support means so much. I wish all the players an amazing tournament, and I can’t wait to be back on the court with you all soon!"

His withdrawal came as a small consolation to his opponent, who had lost his last six finals on tour but nonetheless qualified for the ATP Finals. Back in action on Monday, Lorenzo Musetti fell in his opening round-robin match to Taylor Fritz (6-3, 6-4 in 1h42).

Tien’s steady rise rewarded

It may have lacked the star power of Athens, but the showdown between Learner Tien and Cameron Norrie in Metz was every bit as gripping. Trailing 1-5 in the deciding-set tiebreak against the Brit who had recently stunned Carlos Alcaraz in Paris, the 19-year-old American showed remarkable poise to turn the match around and seal his maiden title in dramatic fashion (6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) in 2h10).

The breakthrough marks a milestone in the steady progression of a player whose trajectory continues to rise. Tien becomes the first American teenager to win an ATP title since Andy Roddick in 2002. Beaten by Jannik Sinner in his first ATP final in Beijing just a few weeks ago, he has now cracked the Top 30 after five Top-10 wins this season, a testament to his consistency and self-belief.

“This title is really special to me,“ he told ATPTour.com after his week in Metz. “It was a big goal I had coming into the season. It was the last week of the year. I really wanted to make it happen. So, it means a lot.”

“That's great, actually. I wasn't sure what my exact ranking would be after this week. But it was a bonus, honestly, for me to be seeded in Australia. It's something that I was really not trying to keep in mind during matches and kind of add extra pressure on myself. So, that's great.”