TEL AVIV/STARNBERG, September 29, 2022
Novak Djokovic has reached the quarterfinals of the Tel Aviv Watergen Open. The top seed of the ATP Tour 250 tournament, who is competing in his first individual event since his Wimbledon triumph in July, eased past Spanish veteran Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-3 on Thursday evening.
Djokovic struck eight aces and won 81 per cent of his first-service points to seal victory in one hour and 26 minutes.
Back in the groove 👏@DjokerNole plays some breathtaking tennis in a 6-0 6-3 victory over Andujar pic.twitter.com/vmsPuXwyZA
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 29, 2022
“Fantastic atmosphere here tonight, thank you very much,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “I like the court, it’s very intimate and it’s very loud. The crowd here is very passionate about the sport, about tennis and I’m really, really happy to be here and to perform here in front of you, so thank you for your support.”
The World No. 7 will next take on Canadian lucky loser Vasek Pospisil, who beat local qualifier Edan Leshem 6-3, 6-2 in 80 minutes
Earlier in the day, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech saved one match point en route to a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7) win against third seed Diego Schwartzman from Argentina. The 27-year-old, who enjoyed a run to the quarterfinals on home soil at last week’s Moselle Open in Metz, will next play Roman Safiullin of Russia.
British qualifier Liam Broady continued his strong run, upsetting fifth seed Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 40 minutes to set a meeting with second-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic. Frenchman Constant Lestienne also advanced, eliminating Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 45 minutes.
