Novak Djokovic reached the 127th final of his career and his fourth championships match of the year at the Tel Aviv Open after his 6-1 7-6 (7-3) win over Roman Safiulin in their first head-to-head match.
Djokovic converted three of his seven break point chances. The Serbian player held his opening game with a service winner and earned three break points in the second game.
Djokovic converted his first break point after Safiulin made a double fault and fired a service winner in the third game. Safiulin faced three break points in the fourth game and saved them. Safiulin saved the fourth break point with a backhand down the fine before dropping serve with a forehand error on the fifth opportunity to trail 0-4.
Djokovic hit an ace in the fifth game to race out to a 5-0 lead in 17 minutes. Safiulin held serve with a forehand winner to win his first game. Djokovic held serve at love to seal the first set 6-1 in 23 minutes.
Safiulin hit an ace in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. The world number 104 earned his first break point in the sixth game, but the 2022 Wimbledon champion fended it off with his serve. The former world number 1 saved the second break point to hold serve with an ace for3-3.
Safiulin wasted a game point at 4-4 before Djokovic broke serve with a volley winner at the net. Djokovic dropped his serve after a double fault as he was serving for the match.
Both players served well in the 11th and 12th game to set up a tie-break. Djokovic built up a 4-1 lead after Safiulin made a double fault in the fifth game.
Djokovic earned four match points in the eighth game and sealed the second set 6-3 with an ace.
Novak Djokovic: “I think it was a very competitive match, especially in the second set. I must say I was quite emotional on the court today in the second set. There was a lot of tension. It was due to his aggressive style of tennis”.
Djokovic dropped just three points to win the opening set 6-1. Safiulin raised his level in the second set, when he broke serve, as Djokovic was serving for the match at 5-4.
Djokovic will be aiming to win his third title of the year against Marin Cilic, who beat Constant Lestienne 7-5 6-3. Cilic went down 2-5 in the opening set and saved two set points before taking five consecutive games to seal the first set 7-5. The Croatian player reeled off four consecutive games from 2-3 down to close out the second set 6-3.
Djokovic leads 18-2 in his head-to-head matches against Cilic. “It was a great fight. In the first set he was serving for it, and I just managed to stay In there. I kept my focus and served fantastic from that point. It was a really exciting match. It’s always a fantastic challenge to play against Novak. No matter the tournament, he is an unbelievable competitor and always gives his incredible best. We first played in 2008 and we have known each other since we were 14. It’s going to be another great match”, said Cilic.
