LONDON -- Novak Djokovic may have found a little comfort had he glanced over to the celebrity box after losing the first set of his Tour Finals opener.Among the guests to see his 6-7 (10), 6-0, 6-2 win against Dominic Thiem at the O2 Arena Sunday afternoon was Jose Mourinho. The Manchester United manager had departed before the evening session, when?Milos Raonic scored his first Tour Finals win, beating Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4.Mourinho likes his tennis and is usually spotted cheering on Andy Murray at Queens Club, just a few minutes down the road from his London home. He even gave the Scot some advice on dealing with pressure at the grass-court event two summers ago, following his Premier League title win with Chelsea.But Mourinhos stock has fallen since. Sacked by Chelsea and struggling with United, the Portuguese has plenty in common with Djokovic. The Serbs ability has also been questioned, despite his dominance in recent years, after losing the world No. 1 spot to Murray following 122 consecutive weeks at the top.Djokovic looked determined to reassert his supremacy here, though. This is his patch, after all. He is seeking a fifth consecutive title in London, and a sixth overall which would tie him with Roger Federer for the record.More importantly, it would signal an immediate return to the top of the rankings, and guarantee him to be year-end No. 1 for the fifth time in just six years.There are multiple permutations by which Djokovic can immediately get his old ranking back, but, like Murray, the simplest answer is that it is in his own hands. If he wins two group stage matches and takes the title, he will be the year-end No. 1.Before the start of play, Djokovic was a combined 23-0 against his group opponents, and 3-0 against Thiem including their Roland Garros semifinal, whom he had yet to lose a set to.Tour Finals debutant Thiem, the ambitious 23-year-old who has won titles on every surface, is touted as the next star of the mens game, and duly stood and traded with Djokovic in the first set.Dominic started very well, he put in a great effort and I thought we played a very high level from the very first point, Djokovic said in his on-court interview.The crowd was brought to life when Thiem brought up two set points in the tiebreaker at 6-4. But he handed Djokovic the ultimate get out of jail free card by double-faulting on both. Oh, what pressure does to a player.Djokovic would manage to save another three set points before Thiem finally took his sixth chance, closing out the first set in 67 minutes -- but only after Djokovic had failed to take one of his own.It was unusual that Djokovic did not even attempt to intercept the forehand winner that Thiem blasted down the middle of the court. The all-conquering Djokovic of six months ago -- the best returner the game has ever seen -- would surely have been scampering after it.Perhaps he knew it. The Serb struck a ball out of frustration, and it narrowly missed Boris Becker in his players box.It was definitely not easy. He [Thiem] was going for his shots, Djokovic said. The tiebreak was deservedly won by him. He was the better player in the tougher moments.Almost as if he was personally affronted by surrendering his first ever set to Thiem -- and the roar that greeted it from a crowd eager to see a competitive match -- Djokovic then bageled the Austrian in just 23 minutes to level the match at one set all.After that [opening set] I managed to regroup and play very well, Djokovic continued. I definitely didnt want to let him start off well in the second set. I knew the first couple of games were crucial. I managed to get a break in that opening game. After that I just felt very comfortable on the court. I put a lot of returns back and made him play an extra shot.Thiem simply crumbled under scoreboard pressure, seeing his name in lights leading the 12-time Grand Slam winner. He won just 44 percent of points on his first serve compared to 76 in the first set.Djokovic broke again for 2-1 in the decider and was done with it, losing just one more game to wrap up the win in two hours, two minutes.It was a good match with a great first set, Thiem said on court. After the first set I lost a little bit of energy which is required to play against Novak. Elie Okobo Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Jamal Crawford Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/devin-booker-suns-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Leandro Barbosa Suns Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Deandre Ayton Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Five tournaments into his rookie season on the PGA Tour, Mackenzie Hughes has the 36-hole lead at Sea Island and expects a few nerves.That weekend he spent with Phil Mickelson should at least help.Hughes had another bogey-free round Friday and took care of the par 5s on the Plantation Course for a 5-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead over C.T. Pan going into the weekend of the RSM Classic, the final PGA Tour event of the year.Hughes at was at 14-under 128.Pan also is a rookie, and perhaps they can take inspiration from rookie Cody Gribble winning in Mississippi three weeks ago. Hughes and Pan both spent last year on the Web.com Tour to earn their cards.Theres going to be nerves tomorrow, and Im going to be a little jittery starting out, but thats completely natural, Hughes said. But I just think guys come off the Web.com Tour that ... for example, I won in Missouri and I feel like the win translates to being able to win out here. The margin is so small that the things I did on that weekend to win that tournament are the same things Ill have to do Saturday and Sunday.Hughes started his rookie season in the Safeway Open, made the cut and wound up in the same group with Mickelson, who attracted the largest gallery.The atmosphere was a dream start for me, Hughes said. We played the first day, and I had a 9-footer on 19 for par to make par and stay tied with him. I was so pumped that I made it because I got one more round out of it. He was a super nice guy, really welcoming. It was a nice way to break yourself in.There wasnt much of a gallery at Sea Island on another pristine day for scoring, so ideal that the cut came at 5-under par. That probably wont change for the weekend, especially with tournament host Davis Love III and Sea Island neighbors Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar among those missing the cut.Even so, it was an experience that could come in handy for the 25-year-old Canadian.Being with him for two days and with his galleries and all the distractions going on there, thats probably as good a preparation as you would have for tomorrow and Sunday, Hughes said. There was so much learning going on that weekend that Ill be able to apply.ddddddddddddIt was the lowest cut on the PGA Tour since 5 under at the 2015 Zurich Classic.Hughes opened with a 9-under 61 on the Seaside course at Sea Island, while he didnt hit the ball as cleanly over at Plantation, he had few complaints. He picked up three of his birdies at the par 5s, even on the 18th when he found a fairway bunker off the tee and had to lay up. He hit wedge to 8 feet and made the putt.Today was definitely a little more work, Hughes said, though he quickly added that 67 was no slouch of a score and I would take two more of those in a heartbeat.Hughes and Pan, who shot a 64 at Seaside, played together on the Canadian Tour two years ago, and then all last year on the Web.com Tour. Pan had a brief stay atop the world amateur ranking in 2013 when he won eight times at Washington, and he made the cut as an amateur at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.They will be joined in the final group by Hudson Swafford, who lives at Sea Island and shot a 67 on the Plantation. Swafford was three shots behind, along with Chad Campbell, Chesson Hadley and Blayne Barber.It should be fun, Pan said. We played on the Canadian tour last year, and then we played the Web.com Tour this year and now we are both on the PGA Tour. So its exciting to see both of us play well out there, because its a dream come true for both of us.That much was clear when Hughes came into the media center for an interview. He left his seat, walked to the back of the room and handed his phone to his mother to take a picture. It was that kind of moment for him.Even with a two-shot lead, however, the conditions have been such that low scores are available to anyone at any time. Twenty-five players were separated by just five shots with two more rounds to play.That group includes Jim Furyk, Stewart Cink. Four shots behind was Jonathan Byrd, a five-time PGA Tour winner who spent last year on the Web.com Tour and still doesnt have full status. He is playing this week on a sponsors exemption and wants to make the most out of limited chances like this. ' ' '