Google News Novak Djokovic reflects on tight Stefanos Tsitsipas win
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World No. 1 Novak Djokovic admitted that Stefanos Tsitsipas started the match better but he was happy that he managed to come up big in the key moments and win the match eventually. Djokovic, seeded at No. 1, was down by a set and a break but recovered to beat Tsitsipas 4-6 7-5 7-5.
The match started on Friday but it was suspended due to rain. Tsitsipas was up by a set and a break when the match continued on Saturday. “There are many things to say about today or yesterday’s match. It kind of felt like we played two matches… The one yesterday, where he was the better player.
He started better today also. I managed to somehow to hold my nerves [and] break his serve in the important moments in the second and third sets,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview. “The support of the crowd was amazing.
It was great to play in front of a crowd. [It was a] fantastic atmosphere. It was a bit of luck, a bit of mental strength and the right tactics at the right time. One shot, not even a point, one shot really decided the winner today.
I am just glad to be on the better side”.
Djokovic gave credit to Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas broke Djokovic in the opening game of the match and then saved two break points in the following game to take a 2-0 lead. Tsitsipas saved three more break points in the fourth game, before he claimed his second break in the fifth game.
Djokovic got one break back in the sixth game but Tsitsipas then held on to his serve in the next two games to win the opener. Tsitsipas broke Djokovic in the third game to take a 2-1 lead and the match was then suspended.
Djokovic broke back Tsitsipas in the eighth game and then saved three break points in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Djokovic then realized his fourth set point in the 12th game to force a decider. Djokovic was twice down by a break in the third set but broke Tsitsipas three times to steal the set and complete a comeback.
"I had to dig very deep, but I believed I could win, you can always fight. He is in a fantastic shape, winning Monte Carlo and with the final in Barca," Djokovic said, per Sasa Ozmo. "Today the conditions were different, ball was bouncing higher, yesterday was slow and muddy. "Probably the toughest match of 2021 for me."
