Novak Djokovic won the ATP 250 title in Tel Aviv on Sunday (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Novak Djokovic defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets
- Djokovic won his 3rd title on the tour in 2022
- Bopanna and Middelkoop won their first title as a pair in 2022
Novak Djokovic showed yet again that he is slowly but surely returning to peak form as he cruised to the ATP 250 title in Tel Aviv on Sunday, beating Marin Cilic in straight sets in the men’s singles final. Djokovic defeated second seed Cilic 6-3, 6-4 to win the Tel Aviv Watergen Open Trophy, his 3rd tour-level title in 2022.
Novak Djokovic, who is giving his best to reach the World Tour Finals despite having missed a major chunk of the season, did not drop a set en route to the title in Tel Aviv.
Djokovic appeared in top form against his familiar foe Cilic, who struggled to hold serve, not being able to cope up with deep returns from the Serb. Cilic had faced only 4 break points en route to the final but on Sunday, he was under trouble.
Djokovic also became the first man to win at least a title on hard, clay and grass court in the 2022 season. The Serb extended his head-to-head record over Cilic to 19-2.
BOPANNA, MIDDELKOOP WIN DOUBLES CROWN
Meanwhile, Rohan Bopanna and his partner Matwe Middelkoop beat Santiago Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in the summit clash to claim the doubles title in Tel Aviv.
The top-seeded Indo-Dutch pair notched up a 6-2 6-4 win over the third-seeded Gonzalez from Mexico and Argentina’s Molteni in the final.
It was Bopanna’s third title of the season. The 42-year-old Indian had won two titles this season with compatriot Ramkumar Ramathan in Adelaide and Pune.
