Andrey Rublev beats Novak Djokovic to win Serbia Open 

The 24-year-old Russian player played aggressively to stop Men’s tennis World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, from mounting another comeback by claiming his first title of 2022. Andrey Rublev closed out the win in 2 hours and 24 minutes.

Andrey Rublev looked fitter as he went into the first half, while ten years older Novak Djokovic appeared to be affected after the effort exerted by him to level the match in the second-set tiebreaker.

Novak Djokovic had previously bounced back from a set down in his three matches against Laslo Djere, Miomir Kecmanovic and Karen Kachanov in his hometown tournament. He has played only eight games, including this year due to missing multiple tournaments due to his reluctance to get vaccinated for Covid 19. This win helped Andrey Rublev ahead of his French Open titled defence next month.

Noval Djokovic Opened his clay-court season with a disappointing loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Open on April 12. It was the first match for the 20-time Grand Slam champion since his elimination during the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championship in February.

Dubai Championship was his first tournament of the year after he was deported from Australia and barred from defending his Australian Open title because of his choice to not get vaccinated for Covid 19. His reluctance to get vaccinated also prevented him from playing a series of tournaments in the United States of America this year.

Despite the loss due to being let down by his physical form, Novak Djokovic looks optimistic about his bid to capture a third French Open crown. 

Novak Djokovic said, "Things are progressing slowly but surely, Paris is the big goal and hopefully by Paris, I'll be ready, "I have to look at the positives, playing the final in front of my home crowd. It was unfortunate that in the third set I ran out of gas and couldn't deliver more of a fight.

"After four three-set battles, I can say that I am tired but also pleased that I managed to win the matches before this one.

"I think that will serve me for the continuation of the clay-court season.