At the end of an Italian week who will have seen him pass the 1,000 victories on the ATP circuit, the Serbian has been full of confidence after a complicated start to the season. A good omen a few days before the kick-off of Roland-Garros.
Le Monde with AFP
After a complicated start to the season, Novak Djokovic needed to reassure himself. It’s done. Sunday, May 15, the Serbian offered himself a sixth coronation at the Rome tournament, at the expense of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5 global): 6-0, 7-6 (7/5).
This victory confirms the return in great shape of the world number 1, which had won no title in 2022, after having lived a first quarter almost at a stop due to its non -vaccination against the COVID-19.
In the absence of Rafael Nadal, emperor with the ten Roman coronations eliminated in eighth, and Carlos Alcaraz, phenomenon at rest for Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5), Djokovic did not almost access the final without conceding the slightest set.
The day before, the Serbian had recorded his 1,000 e victory on the ATP circuit, joining a very closed circle which had only been members that Jimmy Connors (record holder with 1,274 successes) so far) , Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Rafael Nadal.
“Yesterday and the day before yesterday, I played very well, agreed the interested party after his victory. My level of form has improved in recent weeks. It has been a wonderful tournament for me.”
“You inspire me a lot”
If Djokovic crushed the first set, taking advantage of an empty passage of tsitsipas, the meeting could have headed for a third round. Led 5-2 In the second set, the Serb was able to straighten the bar to conclude the debates at the end of the tie-break.
“I surprised myself today, recognized the world number 1. I knew what I had to do and what to expect.”
“You inspire me a lot and I hope to arrive at your level one day”, paid tribute to his opponent of the day after the match.
Reissue of the last final of the Porte d’Auteuil, the poster of Foro Italico has floated a small perfume of Roland-Garros on Rome. Tsitsipas will still have to wait a little to hope to take revenge on the Serb, who had deprived him of the coronation in 2021 after a battle in five sets. Djokovic, he will try to join the Nadal record holder in the number of Grand Chelem victories (21).