Alexander Zverev said he felt “a lot of joy” as he swept aside Rafael Jodar to claim his first victory as world number one in the opening match of the ATP Finals.
Germany’s Zverev produced a serving masterclass to beat the fast-rising Spaniard 6-4 6-4.
The French and US Open champion dropped only 10 points on serve, landing an astonishing 84% of first serves and hitting 10 aces.
The only time Zverev looked troubled was when he went two break points down as he served for the opening set – before saving them with back-to-back aces.
Zverev lost his first match as world number one at the Paris Masters in November and said afterwards he was “annoyed” at the reaction to his rise to the top of the rankings.
However, he said he felt “quite light” in Turin as he bids to win the season-ending title for a third time.
“I felt a lot of joy being out there. In Paris I felt heavy,” the 29-year-old said.
“I couldn’t focus on tennis in Paris. I was quite exhausted. So much going on.
“I definitely enjoyed the tennis today. I felt light, and I felt like I had control over my body.”
Zverev has taken full advantage of a year in which Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have struggled with injuries, winning two majors and reaching the Wimbledon final.
He underlined his status as the world’s best player by walking out on court in Turin in a custom black leather jacket with a number one printed on the back and carrying a gold racquet bag.
His performance was just as befitting of his position as he put constant pressure on the Jodar serve and dominated with his own first strike.
The 20-year-old Jodar is one of the brightest talents in the men’s game, having started the year outside the world’s top 150.
Now ranked 11th, he fought hard to stay in touch with Zverev, but could find no way through his serve.
Zverev broke him early in the first set with a fine backhand down the line and went up a quick break in the second.
He had three further chances for a double-break lead but Jodar saved them, before Zverev served out victory.
Ben Shelton, who lost to Zverev in the US Open final, beat France’s Arthur Fils 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the second group game.
It is the first time world number four Shelton has won a match at the season-ending event, having lost all three group games last year.
Watched on by new coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Shelton fired down 12 aces and saved three of the four break points he faced to outlast seventh-ranked Fils.
In the doubles, Britain’s Henry Patten and Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara began their campaign with a 6-3 5-7 10-4 win over Brazilian pair Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz.
Wimbledon champions Patten and Heliovaara are the defending champions in Turin.
