The Serb tennis ace clinched the Tel Aviv Open on Sunday evening
© John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images © Getty Images
All-time tennis great Novak Djokovic won his first title since Wimbledon and third of 2022 after seeing off Croatian Marin Cilic in the Tel Aviv Open final on Sunday.
The top seed defeated the second seed 6-3, 6-4 and became the first male player to win titles on hard, clay and grass courts this season.
The 35-year-old didn’t lose a set all week at the ATP 250 tournament in the Israeli city, and celebrates the 89th title of his career overall.
Signed and sealed 💯The moment @DjokerNole secured his 89th ATP title!@telavivopenpic.twitter.com/U5cuaDGiih
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 2, 2022
Cilic also came into the final in good form after facing only four break points in the competition.
His serve was tipped to provide a threat to Djokovic, but the 21-time Grand Slam winner and world number seven set the tone for the meeting with great returns from the back of the court.
Djokovic avoided facing a break point in the first set and was decisive with back-to-back aces when serving for the set at deuce.
He broke for the second time at the start of the second set, keeping on the pressure to wrap up his win in one hour and 35 minutes.
Also improving his lead to 19-2 against former world number three Cilic, Djokovic now heads to the Astana Open next week seeking his fourth title triumph of the year as 2022 draws to a close.
