Men’s tennis has been waiting for the new generation of younger players to topple the old guard for some years now and a fresh-faced champion was duly crowned here at the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday night. Stefanos Tsitsipas’ spectacular 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 victory over Dominic Thiem in the final of the year-ending showpiece was the biggest win of the 21-year-old Greek’s career.

Tsitsipas, the youngest winner of the title since 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt in 2001, thrilled a capacity crowd with his all-action brand of attacking tennis to seal his reputation as the sport’s most exciting new talent. With his engaging personality, flowing locks and dynamic game style, the world No 6 has what it takes to become one of the sport’s biggest names for years to come.

Having impressed the public here all week with his performances, Tsitsipas enjoyed the support of the majority of the spectators, many of whom were chanting his name in the final set. Tsitsipas paid tribute afterwards to them for their “amazing” support. “They give me so much energy and so much belief,” he said.

The final brought a fitting climax to the ATP season, with both men attacking at every opportunity and demonstrating their power, athleticism and coolness under pressure. Purists will have enjoyed the sight of two players hitting majestic one-handed backhands as well as the sweet skills both men displayed at the net.

After a tight first set in which there were no breaks of serve, Thiem never trailed in the tie-break, which he won 8-6. Tsitsipas’ response, however, was stunning. The world No 6 dropped only two points in racing into a 4-0 lead in the second set, which he won in just 26 minutes.

ATP Finals 2019 Show all 38 1 /38 ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: General view inside the arena during the singles match between Daniil Medvedev of Russia and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day Two of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 11, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) Naomi Baker Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 TOPSHOT - Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas kicks the ball as he celebrates victory against Switzerland's Roger Federer during the men's singles semi-final match on day seven of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 16, 2019. - Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Switzerland's Roger Federer 6-3; 6-4. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS AFP via Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates with the trophy after his singles final match victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece with the winners trophy after his win over Dominic Thiem of Austria after the final during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Stefanos Tsitsipas in action during the singles final against Dominic Thiem on day eight of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 17, 2019. See PA story TENNIS London. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission. John Walton PA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates victory against Dominic Thiem in the singles final on day eight of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 17, 2019. See PA story TENNIS London. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission. John Walton PA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa08004784 Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts after losing his final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 17, 2019 Austria's Dominic Thiem in action during his final match against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien TONY O'BRIEN Action Images via Reuters ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: A dejected Dominic Thiem of Austria after his singles final match loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during Day Eight of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2019 in London, England. during Day Seven of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 16, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 TOPSHOT - Switzerland's Roger Federer gestures against Austria's Dominic Thiem during their men's singles round-robin match on day one of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 10, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) ADRIAN DENNIS AFP via Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07987079 Dominic Thiem of Austria reacts during his round robin match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 10 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07987076 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Dominic Thiem of Austria during their round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 10 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07987080 Dominic Thiem of Austria arrives for his round robin match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 10 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07987025 Dominic Thiem of Austria in action against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 10 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 10, 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his group stage match against Italy's Matteo Berrettini Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien TONY O'BRIEN Action Images via Reuters ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 TOPSHOT - Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates his straight sets win over Italy's Matteo Berrettini in his men's singles round-robin match on day one of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 10, 2019. - Novak Djokovic eased to a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Matteo Berrettini in his ATP Finals opener on Sunday as he targets a record-equalling sixth year-end number one ranking. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) ADRIAN DENNIS AFP via Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Matteo Berrettini of Italy plays a backhand in his singles match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during Day One of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 10, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic signs autographs after his straight sets win over Italy's Matteo Berrettini in his men's singles round-robin match on day one of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 10, 2019. - Novak Djokovic eased to a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Matteo Berrettini in his ATP Finals opener on Sunday as he targets a record-equalling sixth year-end number one ranking. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) ADRIAN DENNIS AFP via Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07986339 Novak Djokovic of Serbia arrives for his round robin match against Matteo Berrettini of Italy at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 10 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns against Italy's Matteo Berrettini during their men's singles round-robin match on day one of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London on November 10, 2019. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) ADRIAN DENNIS AFP via Getty Images ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 11, 2019 Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during his group stage match against Spain's Rafael Nadal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY TONY O'BRIEN Action Images via Reuters ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07989505 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Alexander Zverev of Germany during their round robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 11 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07989501 Rafael Nadal of Spain during his round robin match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 11 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07989481 Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts after winning his round robin match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 11 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 epa07989474 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his round robin match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 11 November 2019. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal on day two of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday November 11, 2019. See PA story TENNIS London. Photo credit should read: John Walton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission. John Walton PA ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Rafael Nadal of Spain enters the court prior to his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during their ATP World Tour Finals singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali AP ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 11, 2019 Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his group stage match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE REUTERS ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 11, 2019 Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during his group stage match against Spain's Rafael Nadal Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien TONY O'BRIEN Action Images via Reuters ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Tennis - ATP Finals - The O2, London, Britain - November 11, 2019 Germany's Alexander Zverev in action during his group stage match against Spain's Rafael Nadal REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE REUTERS ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates winning a point against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during their ATP World Tour Finals singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Kirsty Wigglesworth AP ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece celebrates winning match point against Daniil Medvedev of Russia, during their ATP World Tour Finals singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali AP ATP Finals 2019 ATP Finals 2019 Daniil Medvedev of Russia returns to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during their ATP World Tour Finals singles tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali AP

When Tsitsipas broke to go 2-1 up in the decider and then held serve to love it seemed that Thiem’s resistance might have crumbled, but the 26-year-old Austrian is a magnificent competitor and broke back to level at 3-3 and take the match to a deciding tie-break.

Thiem fought back once again in the tie-break from 1-4 down to 4-4, but Tsitsipas, holding his nerve, won the next three points to claim victory after more than two and a half hours.

It was the perfect end to what has been a very good week at the year-end finals, but while it might be tempting to see this as the start of a new era, we have been here before. Tsitsipas was the third successive first-time champion at these finals and will be hoping that he can follow up his triumph with better seasons than those enjoyed by his predecessors.

The Greek has everything to become the next superstar in tennis (Getty) (AFP via Getty Images)

Grigor Dimitrov, the champion in 2017, did not win any titles in 2018 and saw his ranking slide from a career-high No 3 to No 19 over the next 12 months.

Alexander Zverev enjoyed his finest moment here in 2018, beating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in successive matches to claim the title, but the 22-year-old German has won only one minor title this year. He has lost to lower-ranked opponents on 21 occasions in 2019 and had won only one of his six matches against top 10 players before beginning the defence of his title here.

While Thiem, Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini have all struck significant blows for the younger generation in 2019, the fact is that the year-end world rankings have an all too familiar look. Rafael Nadal, aged 33, finished on top, ahead of 32-year-old Djokovic and 38-year-old Federer. It is the eighth time they have filled the top three places in the year-end rankings following their achievements in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2018.

Tsitsipas celebrates with the trophy (Getty) (Getty Images)

That rankings domination is largely down to the supremacy of the established players in the Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic won his seventh Australian Open title this year and his fifth Wimbledon, while Nadal triumphed at Roland Garros for the 12thtime and added a fourth US Open. The last time anyone outside the so-called “Big Three” won any Grand Slam title was in 2016, when Stan Wawrinka took the US Open.

In 2020 there could even be the prospect of the “Big Five” resuming their domination. Wawrinka is back up to No 16 in the rankings after struggling so long with knee trouble, while Andy Murray, continuing his remarkable comeback after hip surgery, won his first title for two and a half years in Antwerp last month.

If the younger generation are to topple the ancien ré​gime, this year, the men most likely to do so could be those who played at these year-end finals. Although Medvedev was not at his best after a gruelling season and Berrettini was sometimes outclassed, Zverev enjoyed one of his better weeks this year and Thiem and Tsitsipas were worthy finalists.

The Greek is the youngest ever winner of the Finals (Getty) (Getty Images)

Thiem has been the game’s second best clay-court player behind Nadal for the last three years but has shown in 2019 that he can also excel on hard courts. Since appointing Nicolas Massu as his coach in February the Austrian has won two titles on clay and three on hard courts.