47.8 F
New York
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Wins Tel Aviv Open for 89th Career Title 

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

By: Marvin Azrak

 

Don’t underestimate the heart of a champion, particularly the Djoker. Stipulated into torpor following his fourth straight Wimbledon title for three months due to his unvaccinated status, Novak Djokovic exquisitely conquered the inaugural Tel Aviv open, winning the ATP 250 event without conceding a set.

The top seed defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to polish off the inaugural Tel Aviv Watergen Open and is 24-6 on the season.

The win saw the Serbian become the first man to win a title on all three surfaces(hard, clay, grass)this season. Djokovic, 35, acclaimed his 89th career ATP title and trails only Jimmy Connors (109), recently retired Roger Federer (103), Ivan Lendl (94), and current rival Rafael Nadal (92) on the all-time list.

Novak landed in Tel Aviv following his performance at the Laver Cup, where he beat US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe 6-1,6-3, but endured a wrist injury in a 6-3, 7-6 defeat to Felix-Auger-Aliassime. He arrived in Israel, bludgeoning Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-3, extirpating Vasek Popsil 7-6(6), 6-3, and overwhelmed Roman Safiullin 6-1, 7-6, setting up his date with Cilic.

Djokovic wore out his opponents’ serve with his stifling play from the backline, accruing pace of balls, and firmly controlled his serve all week. Novak was never broken from Wednesday-Sunday, only facing four break points and just one in the final.

Cilic, 2014 US Open champion and the NO2 seed, breezed through the competition, quickly dispatching the likes of 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, walked over Liam Broady, who pulled out before the match due to injury, and Constant Lestienne 7-5, 6-3 to reach his first hard-court final of the season. Imperative to the Croatian’s success was his powerful serve, which supposedly possessed the arsenal to bewilder the 21-time grand-slam champion. But on his 34th birthday, Marin struggled with his first serve, as inefficiency was his undoing early and often.

Djokovic drew first blood at 3-1 and coasted to the 6-3 first set victory before proceeding to break Cilic in the maiden game of the second set, using the deep ball. That advantage proved enough as Djokovic claimed the crown and his 17th straight year with a hard court title after one hour and 35 minutes 6-3, 6-4. The victory secured a spot in the ATP finals despite not receiving any ranking points for his Wimbledon triumph due to the ban of Russian and Belarusian players before the tournament, as the war with Ukraine had reached its peak when the ruling came down.

Djokovic now leads Cilic 19-2 in their ATP Head2Head series. Thirteen of his 19 victories have come in straight sets. Despite the finals defeat, it was a prosperous week for the 34-year-old birthday boy, proving he’s still a championship contender despite his age.

Meanwhile, Israel was the 18th different country Novak lifted a title throughout his career, also doing so in the Netherlands, France, Australia, USA, Portugal, Canada, Austria, Italy, China, UAE, Serbia, Switzerland, Spain, UK, Monaco, Qatar, and Japan, pulling into a tie with Nadal and one behind Federer in that category.

Being mentally strong is paramount to having a successful tennis career, and nobody has done it better than Djokovic, who attributed it to his roots. “It has to do a lot with the environment. I grew up in the 90s with a couple of wars. I know what it feels like to have literally nothing and so much in life; it gives you perspective”. There isn’t one secret or one key that solves all the problems. It’s a combination of things that are part of your character: who you are, how you train, and your lifestyle.” “It all creates the image of success. That formula has worked for me.”

Novak also said he’s always open to new ideas with the robust transitioning of the top at the tour.

“I also try new things because I always want to progress, especially with guys like Alcaraz, full of power and adrenaline. So you always have to figure out how to improve and take yourself to a higher level,” he continued.

“This year, unfortunately, I have missed two Grand Slams. Those are the tournaments where I want to play my best tennis. It has not been so difficult to maintain the physical tone during this time, but it has been more demanding on an emotional level due to the circumstances that I have encountered this year, which had never happened to me.”

It’s been a tedious year for Novak, who was deported back in January from the Australian Open due to not being vaccinated. That was why he didn’t participate on the American circuit, including the US Open. Djokovic fell in the Dubai Open to Jiri Vesey and in round two of Monte Carlo to eventual runner-up Alejandro Davidovich Fokin. However, he was victorious in Rome but fell to Rafael Nadal in four sets at the elite eight in Roland Garros.

On the grass, he won Wimbledon and has now captured his third title of 2022 in Tel Aviv. Despite a sacrificial past six months, Novak has pocketed $4,383,942 in Prize Money this season.

“My approach is to win tournaments wherever I am, and I’m glad that I have a team of people around me that makes sure that I am in the best shape to be a contender to win titles,” Djokovic said, per the ATP website.

“That’s why I came to Israel, was to try to win the title. First time playing here [since a] Davis Cup tie more than 15 years ago, so it was an amazing experience”.

Djokovic leaves Israel not only a champion but a hero, with fans portraying signs backing their hero’s political decision. “Thanks for saying my body, my choice,” said one oak tag, with another simply saying חירות(Liberty). It culminated in a love affair with the city, as Novak greeted everyone with a letter before tournament play saying, “Shalom Israel. I am very happy and excited to be back in Israel. Looking forward to a great experience”. The champ sported blue and white in each match, honoring the country’s colors.

“Thanks, everyone, for a memorable week. Israel has shown a great passion and respect for tennis, so thanks from the bottom of my heart for supporting everyone who showed up this week”, the victor said in his acceptance speech.

The timing of his achievements is not in his control, but it’s his

But his pursuit of perfection constantly acquits fans to his matches, even if they’re in ATP250 events.

Djokovic will head to the Astana Open 500 next week in Kazakhstan and plans to play the Paris Indoors 1000 at the end of October.

 

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -