Novak Djokovic defeated Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a semi-final match played in front of a packed stadium on Saturday at the 2022 Serbia Open.
The home crowd hero needed two hours to reach the final of the Serbia Open. Djokovic did not get off to a strong start, but he found a higher gear and mounted another comeback in front of 8,000 fans in Serbia's capital.
"I didn’t get off to a good start. It seems that it has become my routine to lose the first set. I’ve lost the first set in all three matches I played. I’ll have to make some changes before the final in order to start a match better."
"Honestly, I wouldn’t mind losing the first set and then winning the match. The second and the third set were probably my best tennis this week. I’m glad that it happened before the most important match, the final."
In the final, he will face a very tough opponent, the second-seeded Andrey Rublev who defeated Fabio Fognini in another semifinal match at the 2022 Serbia Open. In their only meeting, Djokovic triumphed easily 6-3, 6-2, and ahead of their match on Sunday, he said:
"I played with Rublev only once before, in Turin, in last year’s ATP Finals, but the conditions were different then: height above sea level, a different surface. We’ve never played on clay before and this will be our first match on a clay-court. When you reach the final, then you try to do your best and give all you have and more. You do your best to win the title."
"Anyhow, Rublev is a good player, he has held a firm place in Top 10. When he plays, he is looking to find the way to impose his game and knows how to find it, to be in control. His forehand is powerful. We still have to work on the tactic. I know what to do. I’ve talked to Goran about this already. I hope to have a better start than I had in the last three matches and then let the best man win."
Djokovic knows how it feels to play in final stages of tournaments, having won numerous Grand Slams, ATP Masters 1000, and many other tournaments. Right now, he knows that physical fitness will be a crucial factor.
“I believe that in the final stages of a tournament, it is crucial, in addition to physical fitness, that you can really feel your shots, and that goes for all of us. The crucial factor then becomes mental fitness, how long can you maintain your focus, your game level, since you cannot permit too many oscillations."
"I like to feel strong on the court. To me, it is more natural to play like that, to make more pressure but now I’m talking about nuances you apply when you try to outmanoeuvre your rival. It’s important to remain calm and focused because top players recognise the momentum and take advantage easily."
Playing in his hometown, Belgrade, and in his own Novak Tennis Center, Djokovic has very strong support from Serbian fans, which helps him to win matches at the event.
"I’ll keep some things to myself: how I prepare and what goes through my head at those moments. I’m feeding off the energy of home supporters, which is phenomenal, one of the best atmospheres I’ve experienced in my career."
"I’ve always had excellent support here, it’s only natural, I’m from Serbia, but the atmosphere during the match with Khachanov was really great. The audience kept cheering me on and their energy kept me moving forward. This is the best feeling in the world. Being able to play tennis in Belgrade."
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