Djokovic wins Astana final in straight sets for 90th title
Oct 8, 2022, 8:29 PM | Updated: Oct 9, 2022, 8:33 am
Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the final tennis match of the ATP 500 Astana Open tennis tournament against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Stas Filippov)
(AP Photo/Stas Filippov)
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AP) — Novak Djokovic needed only 75 minutes to win his 90th tour title, overcoming third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Astana Open on Sunday.
Djokovic dominated his Greek opponent from the start, winning the first game in little more than a minute. The Serb did not face a break point in the match and hit 15 winners with only seven unforced errors.
It was the Wimbledon champion’s fourth title of the year, including Rome and Tel Aviv.
“I always hoped that I would be going to have a great career,” the 35-year-old Djokovic said. “Obviously, didn’t know the amount of finals I was going to play, the amount of tournaments I was going to win, but my intention was always to reach the highest heights in our sport.”
The fourth-seeded Tsitsipas, 24, who was chasing his third title of 2022 after Monte Carlo and Mallorca, saved three of five break points. He won only 42% of his second serve points in contrast to Djokovic’s 80%.
Djokovic converted his third match point with a backhand winner for his second straight indoor hardcourt title after winning in Tel Aviv last week.
“You know, 35 is not 25,” Djokovic said. “But I think the experience, probably, in these kinds of matches and big occasions helps as well to approach mentally in the right way.”
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