The 2022 ATP season has come to its grand finale, the final of the ATP Finals in Turin between two players with very interesting seasons. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will take the title?
ATP Finals Final Prediction
Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Djokovic 3-0 Ruud
Novak Djokovic has had a season of what-ifs, not playing two Slams and winning the one with no points awarded. The Serb reaching the ATP Finals despite having just 360 points from Slams is a testament to his level of play when he was involved, suffering just six losses on tour all year.
The 35-year-old’s indoor hard season has been impressive, coming off of a two-and-a-half month break after Wimbledon to win titles at Tel Aviv and Astana before reaching the final of Paris-Bercy. At the ATP Finals, Djokovic continued his form, starting off with straight-set wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev. With the semifinals already guaranteed, he then played out a great third-set tiebreak battle against Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic got broken in each of the sets in his semifinal against Taylor Fritz, but got them both in the tiebreaks, reaching his first final at the ATP Finals since 2018.
Ruud has had a brilliant season in 2022, breaking through as high as No. 2 in the rankings, and could finish the season right behind Carlos Alcaraz if he takes the title here in Turin. The Norwegian has already won three titles this year as well as Major finals at the French Open and US Open. Ruud overcame a poor spell of form post-US Open in Turin, taking out Felix Auger-Aliassime in two tight sets before defeating Taylor Fritz in a third-set tiebreak. The 23-year-old lost to Rafael Nadal once he had already secured a semifinal, where he took out Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4, setting up a third big final in 2022.
Djokovic has won their previous three meetings in straight sets, twice in the semifinals of Rome and once before in Turin group stages last season. In his current form, the Serb should be able to lift the ATP Finals trophy for the sixth time in his career.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
