Novak Djokovic played a very solid match to kick-off his 2022 Tel Aviv Open campaign as he faced world no. 115, Pablo Andujar.
The 35-years-old Serbian travelled to Israel mostly because of his friend Jonathan Erlich, who was supposed to play his last professional match. However, the Israeli player got injured and so the duo withdrew from doubles. Therefore, Novak Djokovic can focus only on singles at the 2022 Tel Aviv Open and his opening match showed it.
Ahead of the tournament, Djokovic spoke about the last time when he played in Israel, when he said: “It was the loudest atmosphere I ever experienced, very passionate people for sport here. I love to see that. And I also visited Jerusalem on my second visit to Israel, but it was a while ago."
The Serbian started his second-round match in a dominant style. He broke his opponent twice and soon he was up 5-0. Then, Andujar fought to win at least one game in the first set in a game that was played through six deuces. Yet, it wasn't enough from the Spaniard as Djokovic won the opening set 6-0.
If fans in Tel Aviv thought that was the longest game of the match, they were wrong. In the second game of the second set, Andujar needed 11 deuces to eventually hold his serve.
But once again, that was not enough to stop the 21-time Grand Slam champion, who eventually got the break and won his first match at the 2022 Tel Aviv Open 6-0, 6-3 in an hour and 27 minutes. In the quarterfinals, he will play against Vasek Pospisil from Canada.
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