ATP: Novak Djokovic continues in Tel Aviv, Jannik Sinner wins in Sofia
While Novak Djokovic easily mastered his opening game in Tel Aviv against Pablo Andujar , Jannik Sinner also had no major problems with Nuno Burges in Sofia.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit: Sep 29, 2022, 08:48 pm
Away from the Laver Cup, Novak Djokovic has successfully returned to the ATP tour after a two-and-a-half-month break: The Serb, who last played at the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon, won the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Tel Aviv easily defeated the Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6: 3, 6: 0 in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, the 21-time major winner of Canada's Vasek Pospisil is waiting. The lucky loser had previously defeated local hero Edan Leshem 6-3, 6-2.
Otherwise it was not a good day for the seeded players in the Israeli metropolis: The Argentinian Diego Schwartzman lost by a hair's breadth to Arthur Rinderknech from France 3: 6, 6: 2, 6: 7 (7). Before that, the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp also failed in three sets 4: 6, 6: 4, 3: 6 at the British qualifier Liam Broady.
Carreno Busta fails early in Sofia
At the event in the same category in Sofia (Bulgaria), Jannik Sinner also finished his round of 16 game in two sets after a bye in round one. The South Tyrolean eliminated the Portuguese Nuno Borges 6: 3, 6: 4 and can now either prepare for a duel with the Australian Aleksandar Vukic, who eliminated evergreen Fernando Verdasco 1: 6, 6: 4, 6: 3.
Pablo Carreno Busta, on the other hand, said goodbye surprisingly early: The winner of the Masters event in Montreal failed in three sets 6:3, 3:6, 6:2 at Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler. The German Jan-Lennard Struff challenges the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who is ranked fourth, on Friday.