Djokovic will now go for the 1,001st win of his career. Photo: ANSA
Gradually Novak Djokovic seems to be handling a season that started in the wrong direction after missing the Australian Open and other major tournaments due to his decision not to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. The number one in the world, a privileged position he will have even up to Roland Garros, achieved his thousandth victory on Saturday on the circuit to reach the final of the Rome Masters 1000. There he will meet Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th) this Sunday, aiming to take a sixth crown in Italian brick dust a week before the second Grand Slam of the year begins.
“If only I could choose a place to celebrate this 1,000th victory, hopefully in Serbia or here,” Nole said with a smile when he received a cake decorated with a number that allows him to join a select group now. . with five members .. “I saw Roger and Rafa celebrating those milestones, and I expect to have 1,000 wins as well,” he added.
the other tennis players millennials they are Jimmy Connors (record man with 1,274 wins), Roger Federer (1,251), Ivan Lendl (1,068) and Rafael Nadal (1,051). Two additional data: the Serbian, at 34 years and 11 months, is the oldest of all to achieve it and also the one who needs the most games to achieve it (1,203). And a curiosity: the rival he has defeated most often is Nadal, at least, with whom he has a historic one-on-one. There were 30 victories against the Spaniards.
There are still no titles this year after a nearly inactive first quarterthe Serbian had to give his best against long-winded and combative Norwegian Casper Ruud (10th), whom he defeated 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 42 minutes.
“I always feel like I’m in the game and I think I played really well in the first four games and the last four, at the beginning and at the end of the game. Hopefully I can maintain the level this Sunday “, analyzed Djokovic, who found his way to the final cemented thanks to the absences of Nadal, emperor who had ten titles in Rome but was eliminated in the round of 16, and Carlos Alcaraz, who is resting in his sights seen at Roland Garros.
This Sunday, from 11 (ESPN) will take the most demanding test. The duel against Tsitsipas will be a rematch of the last Roland Garros final, which the Serb won at the end of a five -set bout. Nole dominated the record with six wins and two losses.
“Another final against him in one of the best tournaments on the circuit. Stefanos is a high level player, always on top and winning. A difficult match awaits me, two years ago, we played a very long match and a great match ”, said the Serbian about Tsitsipas, who will play in his first final in Rome, a few weeks after defending his title at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000.
The Greek, who will never beat Djokovic on the slow court, has been solid on serving and very opportunistic in his third semi-final in less than a month against Alexander Zverev (3rd). It was 4-6, 6-3 and 6-3 for the Greek, who prevailed after two hours and 28 minutes and was able to avenge the defeat suffered last week in the semifinals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid.
“It’s a battle on serve and a battle of teeing off after serve. I pushed him, I didn’t concede too much and I improved my serve, something I had to strive for. At the same point in the second set, I think, I saw him a bit bored and took risks, it didn’t work out for him and I, for my part, I tried to make each ball count in my favor ”, declared by Tsitsipas after the victory. Now he is the only one who can continue to zero out Djokovic’s title account in 2022.
the amazing duo
Diego Schwartzman and John Isner will go this Sunday for the title in the Rome Masters 1000 doubles tournament. Yesterday they defeated Argentinian Máximo Gonzalez and Kazakh Andrey Golubev 6-4, 4-6 and 11-9 and now they will face Croatians Nikola Metkic and Mate Pavic who ousted Italians Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli 6-3 and 7 -6.
Source: Clarin
