Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas in Astana Open final to win his 90th career ATP title
Novak Djokovic celebrates in Astana after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the 2016 Astana Open at the Ice Palace in Astana on February 22, 2016
Novak Djokovic claimed his 90th career ATP title as the ninth seed and current world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas upset the world number two Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-3 to claim his maiden senior ATP tournament crown.
Djokovic, who has won the last 15 of his 18 title-clinching matches at this event, overcame a first set in which he was twice broken, but managed to break Nadal serve in the second, which he converted to take a 3-0 lead.
From there it was all Djokovic, as he cruised to victory in just under four hours, with Tsitsipas falling to a forehand.
Djokovic had been aiming for a third ATP title of his career to seal a year’s Grand Slam, having won the French Open, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open in 2015.
The 36-year-old Serb had been chasing a third title this competition, having finished runner-up at Madrid and Barcelona and also making it to the final in Rome, where he lost to Andy Murray at the Olimpico.
Tsitsipas, who is making his first Senior Tour final after losing in three previous Grand Slams, began the match as a clear favourite and won the first set 5-3 in just 30 minutes, following it up with a 6-3, 6-4 win when he broke in the seventh.
He had been hoping to become the first Greek player to win a tournament in his country’s history, but was beaten in the quarter-finals of last year’s US Open.
“It was
