ITF

12 ITFWORLD WINTER 2015 ITFWorld presents the 2015 ITF World Champions. THEy are the champions ITF WORLD CHAMPIONS N OVAK DJOKOVIC had the best year of his career in 2015, and from the moment he lifted his third Grand Slam trophy of the season in New York his position as ITF Men's World Champion was never in doubt. The world No. 1 finished the year with 16,585 points, 7640 ahead of No. 2-ranked Andy Murray. His career- best 11 titles were five more than nearest rival Roger Federer. Djokovic reached the finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, adding three more major titles to his haul, and was in commanding form on all surfaces, losing just six times all season. His record of 82 match wins was a new season best for him. Djokovic lifted the Australian Open trophy for the fifth time, defeating Murray in a four-set final to set a new record for titles won in Melbourne in the Open era. After losing the Dubai final to Federer in February, a first- rubber victory in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas action against Croatia launched Djokovic into a 28-match winning streak which took in the titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome and carried him into his third Roland Garros final. The Serb was heavily favoured to finally capture the French Open crown after his riveting five- set semifinal defeat of Murray. But he was prevented from winning the tournament, and thus a career Grand Slam, at the third time of asking by the in-form Stan Wawrinka, who defeated him 46 64 63 64. That Djokovic was able to regroup and successfully defend his title at Wimbledon showed his formidable mental strength — he defeated Federer in four sets to capture his third title at the All England Club and so match the achievements of his coach Boris Becker. Djokovic finished runner-up at Montreal and Cincinnati to Murray and Federer respectively, then defeated Federer in four sets to win his second US Open. His tenth Grand Slam title moved him into seventh place and a tie with Bill Tilden on the all-time list of majors won, and he joined Federer and Rod Laver as just the third player in the Open era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in one season. The victory also secured Djokovic the year-end No. 1 ranking. From then on, if there had been very little stopping Djokovic before, he was virtually untouchable on his beloved indoor hard court. He went 19-1 for the remainder of the year, winning the Beijing, Shanghai and Paris tournaments and becoming the first man to win six Masters-1000 titles in a season. His only loss during this time was to Kei Nishikori in the round robin at the ATP World Tour Finals, where the Serb went on to defeat Federer to claim a record fourth successive year-end title.

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