Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas in Astana Open final to win his 90th career ATP title
Novak Djokovic came back to life after an injury-laden, injury-ridden year in 2017 and won his first ATP-level title since February, when he defeated Roger Federer in the final of the Miami Open.
All in all it was his most successful 2018 as it was another Grand Slam title-winning year for Djokovic, who also won the Australian Open, Madrid Masters, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Djokovic was the sixth-ranked player in the world before he won the French Open and, at the time of the match, was ranked world number one.
The match was billed as the Australian Open final, but was not a final. Djokovic received a walkover in the first round, and was due to face American John Isner because of a scheduling conflict.
The match was the first Djokovic-Isner match since the 2017 French Open final. Djokovic received what he described as a life-changing gift.
“For a lot of years I had this idea in my head that if I just keep working hard and play my game, everything will be alright,” Djokovic said. “I got the best gifts when the people came into my life and helped me realise, ‘Wow, it’s real, I could be part of something big.’ ”
Here’s my thoughts on the match:
Djokovic had to do a lot better to win the title, just as he did in 2017. After a 1-2 start to the year in Grand Slams, Djokovic found himself at No. 6 in the world. Djokovic had been struggling with injuries last season, and his first-round defeat by top-ranked American Reilly Opelka at the Australian Open was just his first taste of pain.
Djokovic started the year with a win at the Miami Open, though he lost in the championship round of the French Open and was eliminated from the ATP Finals in the first round. After that, the injury problems resurfaced. Djokovic started winning, and lost in the final of the Dubai Open, then had another final-round exit in the Australian Open.
Since then, Djokovic has had