Tennis

Djokovic wins opening match at ATP finals, beats Thiem in 3

Published Nov. 13, 2016 4:49 p.m. ET

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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.

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