Djokovic destroys Andujar to set up Tel Aviv quarterfinal meeting with Pospisil
ATP
Novak Djokovic played a very solid match to kick off his 2022 Tel Aviv Open campaign. He beat World No. 115, Pablo Andujar, without too many issues.
The 35-year-old Serbian traveled to Israel mostly because of his friend Jonathan Erlich, who was supposed to play his last professional match. However, the Israeli player got injured, so the duo withdrew from the doubles doubles.
Therefore, Djokovic could focus only on singles at the 2022 Tel Aviv Open, and his opening match showed it. The Serbian is the top seed at the ATP 250 tournament in Tel Aviv, which means he didn't have to play his first-round match, as he had a bye.
His second-round opponent, Pablo Andujar, beat Thiago Monteiro in the first round, and he was certainly excited to face the 21-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic was likely excited, too, as ahead of the tournament, he spoke about the incredible atmosphere he experienced in Israel the last time he played there.
The Serbian started his second-round match in a dominant style. He broke his opponent's serve 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.
Djokovic eventually broke the Spaniard's serve and won his first match at the 2022 Tel Aviv Open 6-0, 6-3 in an hour and 27 minutes. In the quarter-finals, he will play against Vasek Pospisil from Canada.
