Djokovic extends lead as No. 1

PARIS — Novak Djokovic extended his massive lead at the top of the ATP world rankings, which were released Monday, following his fourth straight victory at the season-ending World Tour Finals in London. The Serbian’s straight sets 6-3, 6-4 win over Roger Federer in Sunday’s final pushed his advantage over world No. 2 Andy Murray to almost 8,000 points. British No. 1 Murray, who is gearing up for this week’s Davis Cup final against Belgium, is guaranteed to finish the year No. 2 for the first time, which should give him the second seeding at January’s Australian Open. The top 20 was otherwise unchanged with Federer only 405 points behind Murray, Stan Wawrinka at No. 4 and Rafael Nadal retaining 5th spot. The Serbian Sunday underlined his complete dominance of men’s tennis with another immaculate display to become the first player in the year-ending tournament’s 46-year history to triumph four times in a row. Federer brought the tournament to a close in anti-climactic fashion with a double-fault, although not as much as a year ago when he pulled out of the final with back injury. After a modest celebration, Djokovic walked back to his chair and wrote “And now for vacation” in Serbian on a camera lens. How he deserves one. The 28-year-old has stomped through the season to leave his rivals trailing in his wake — securing the year-end world No. 1 ranking weeks before the London finale. With the stakes raised though the 34-year-old made far too many errors Sunday while Djokovic’s defenses proved largely impenetrable, but for the odd flash of Swiss magic that had his large red and white fan club chanting their approval. “I returned more balls back than I did five days ago,” Djokovic told a news conference. “Obviously sitting here with this trophy alongside me, I couldn’t ask for a better finish of the season. “This season definitely stands out. I can’t say I expected it, not at all. But I always gave my best, and I’m always asking from myself the most.” Federer’s chances were fleeting. He had the first break point in the second game but fluffed a forehand into the net. In the next game a near-identical forehand found the net to give Djokovic the break and from there he never looked back. The clinical Djokovic teased Federer into a volley error on set point in the ninth game to move ahead. Federer, bidding for a record-extending seventh title at the year-ender, was staring at the abyss when he trailed 3-4 0-40 in the second set but escaped with five straight points. Djokovic was unrelenting though and wore the 34-year-old Federer down with one brutal rally two games later, clinching victory on his second match point when Federer’s second serve sailed long. Djokovic has now leveled his head-to-head record with Federer for the first time in his career, at 22-22. India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Romanian doubles partner Florin Mergea missed out on the ATP Tour Finals title after suffering a 6-4, 6-3 defeat against Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau in Sunday’s final. — Agencies