ATP Masters Rome: Novak Djokovic doesn't give Stefanos Tsitsipas a chance in the final
Novak Djokovic won the title at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. The Serb defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in a one-sided final 6:0 and 7:6 (5) ( You can read the match in re-live here ). It is the 87th title win for the world number one.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: May 15, 2022, 05:49 pm
Novak Djokovic started in this final like a fireman, the first six points of the game were all due to the Serb. Anyone who thought the momentum from the initial phase would decrease: far from it. Djokovic put another one on the first break of the game. And after almost exactly half an hour, I already had the first round in my pocket. For Stefanos Tsitsipas it was even the maximum penalty of 0: 6.
A statistic that probably best illustrates the Serb's dominance in this initial phase of this game: 21 of the first 25 baseline duels ended in a point for the world number one, but Stefanos Tsitsipas had nothing to oppose a well-played Novak Djokovic in the first minutes of this final . In all respects, mind you, not just in the baseline duels.
Tsitsipas comes into play in set two
That should change abruptly in sentence two. With Novak Djokovic, more and more unforced errors crept in, Tsitsipas slowly but surely found security in his game. This was also helped by the fact that the Greek was able to hold his first two hard-fought service games. And to make it 3: 1, Djokovic suddenly increased the number of strokes even when he served - and made his first break of the game.
This key continued up to 5: 2: Tsitsipas was closer to another break than Djokovic to the rebreak, although he also benefited from a significant drop in performance from the world number one. In the ninth game of the second set, he was able to shift up a gear or two at just the right time, increased the pressure on server Tsitsipas and was able to equalize the break deficit after a forehand error by the Greek.
Djokovic with 87th title
A little later, the Serb had already equalized to make it 5: 5, but Stefanos Tsitsipas managed to find a good service game during Novak Djokovic's urge. A tie-break had to make the decision after almost an hour in the second round. In this it was the Serb who was able to put the first pinprick and pulled away to 5:2. Although Tsitsipas was able to shorten again, after almost exactly one and a half hours Novak Djokovic fixed the 6: 0 and 7: 6 (5) success.
For Novak Djokovic it is the 1001st individual success on the ATP tour - with 87 title wins. Exactly at the right time for the French Open, the Serb has now felt that he has reached his absolute top form, against Stefanos Tsitsipas the world number one showed an impressive performance over long stretches. The French Open will start on May 22nd.
You can read the match in re-live here.
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