ATP Tokyo: Novak Djokovic eases past John Millman for title number 76

Competing for the first time since that injury in the fourth round of the US Open, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic won the title on debut in Tokyo, beating John Millman 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes. In the past, Novak had won many crowns after facing toughest possible draws but Tokyo isn't among them, with no one to challenge him right from the beginning and with five straight-sets victories that propelled him towards the 76th ATP crown, moving one behind John McEnroe who claimed 77 in a career. To reach the most notable final so far, Millman had to survive match points in the first qualifying round, playing well after that to set Djokovic clash where he couldn't do much, taking only 11 points on the return and getting broken three times to propel Novak over the top and finish runner-up.

Controlling the pace right from the start, Djokovic hit 23 winners and 19 unforced errors, never facing a break chance and dominating from the baseline to keep his rival on 11 winners and 16 errors and earn the fourth crown of the season, joining Rafael Nadal at the top of the list. The opening set saw eight commanding holds on both sides and a break for Novak at 2-1 when he landed a perfect volley that sent him in front. The Serb confirmed the break with three winners in game five and sealed the set with four more at 5-3, taking the opener in just over 30 minutes and hoping for more of the same in set number two.

There, Djokovic grabbed a break in the first game after forcing an error from Millman, cementing the advantage with a volley winner in game two and forging a double break lead when John netted a backhand in game three. Racing towards the finish line, Novak hit three winners in game four and moved over the top when the Aussie netted a backhand in game eight, celebrating the title and 500 crucial points in the battle for the year-end no. 1 with Rafael Nadal. 

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