Novak Djokovic beats Dominic Thiem to win opening match at ATP finals

Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the ATP finals, rallying to beat Dominic Thiem on Sunday.

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the ATP finals, rallying to beat Dominic Thiem 6–7 (10), 6–0, 6–2 Sunday.

The second-ranked Serb, who has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 ranking at the O2 Arena next weekend, won nine of 10 games after losing the first set in a tiebreaker. And even that was close.

Thiem had his first set point at 6–3 in the tiebreaker, but he double-faulted twice and then put a backhand into the net to make it 6–6.

Djokovic had a chance, too, leading 9–8. But he couldn't close it out with Thiem serving. The Austrian finally won it on his seventh set point with a forehand winner.

After that, it was just about all Djokovic.