djokovic: Novak Djokovic finds ‘extra motivation’ from post-Wimbledon absence

Novak Djokovic claimed his third title of 2022 and the 89th of his career with an impressive straight-sets win over Marin Cilic in the Tel Aviv final on Sunday, emphasizing his long absence since winning his seventh Wimbledon crown in July, Provided “additional inspiration”.

Djokovic, 35, won 6-3, 6-4 this season to link the Israeli hard court trophy to victories at Rome clay and Wimbledon grass.

It was his 19th win over Cilic in 21 meetings in a rivalry that lasted until 2008.

Djokovic is playing his first singles tournament since winning his seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam title in July.

He was banned from the US Open and denied vaccinations by hard courts across North America, before returning to bid farewell to Roger Federer at the Laver Cup team event in London last month.

“I played some really good tennis. I haven’t missed a set all week,” said former world number one Djokovic.

“I hadn’t played a tournament in three months, so it was really extra motivation for me to keep doing really well, especially because the guys have been so friendly and so supportive of me all week. I’m going to take some big confidence in the next one.” I’ve been there for a week too.”

Djokovic’s victory on Sunday came in the 127th final of his career. This allowed him to become the first person to claim the title this year on three different surfaces of the game.

“Wherever I am, that’s my way of winning tournaments and I’m glad to have a team of people around me who make sure I’m in the best position to win the title,” Djokovic told atptour.com. ,

“So I came to Israel, to try to win the title. Playing here for the first time since a Davis Cup tie more than 15 years ago, so it was a really amazing experience.”

On Sunday, Djokovic broke 34-year-old Cilic in the second game of the final and won the first set with a fourth ace after 47 minutes on the court.

Cilic, a former US Open winner, was chasing his 21st career title, but before 2022, broke in the first game of the second set and never recovered.

The Serb suffered only one break point in the match which was achieved in 94 minutes.

“Everything we experienced this week was really positive,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic now heads the Astana ATP tournament where world number one and US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz takes the top seed.

Seventh-ranked Djokovic in the world – having won a Grand Slam title this season – needs to break into the top 20 to make it to the ATP finals.

This would give him the opportunity to end 2022, starting the year in exile from Australia because of his controversial vaccination stance.

Originally published at Pen 18