Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, now ranked 7th according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), secured his victory over Chilean tennis player Cristian Garin during the Astana Open on October 5, with an astounding 6-1, 6-1. This match was his debut for the 2022 Astana Open and resulted in another absolute victory.

Before flying to Astana, Kazakhstan, Djokovic had acquired a trophy for the Tel Aviv Opening in Israel with his 89th career title. He won against Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic in the final match on October 2, scoring 6-3, 6-4. This rejuvenating victory helped him prepare for the new Astana tournament and made him feel confident, as claimed by Djokovic himself.

As for the match against Garin, Djokovic presented an impeccable performance as he dropped six points on his serve. Overall, he broke Garin’s defense three times in the first set, and twice in the second set without facing a single break point. He won the last five games and secured the victory in a span of 62 minutes. 

According to the report made by James Richardson published on Tennis 365, Djokovic “was laser-accurate with his groundstrokes and Garin didn’t seem to stand a chance”. 

Others speculated that Garin was under enormous pressure with Djokovic as his opponent.

During the first set of matches, Djokovic demonstrated a combination of speed and strength, with each stroke being precise and powerful. The most spectacular highlight occurred during the second set when Djokovic was at one point ahead of Garin. After a series of long and energetic strokes, Garin was away from the net. Djokovic then proceeded to hit the ball lightly with a backhand, contributing just enough force to let it past the net. This caught Garin off guard and though he immediately sprinted forward in an attempt to save the ball, his action was futile. The crowd erupted in an enthusiastic ovation. 

After the last stroke which announced his victory, Djokovic proudly raised his hand toward the spectators that waved the Serbian flag printed with the words “Welcome to Astana”. He later stated through the ATP website that “Playing in a new tournament, under different conditions, the first match is never easy,” and he believed that he did it perfectly and played as well as he could. TennisTV, the official TV streaming service, commented on Djokovic’s performance as “flawless”. Djokovic also claimed that he was quick in adjusting to different conditions and surfaces throughout his career.

“Coming into this tournament I feel confident, I feel excited, I feel motivated,” said Djokovic, “so I think that helps as well to adjust quickly.”

In conclusion, the Astana Open victory is yet another confidence booster for Djokovic, who just came out of the Tel Aviv Opening with his third title of this year. There would be more matches forthcoming, and deep respect for all the tennis players who endeavor to bring achievements to their careers.

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