Andrey Rublev claimed the 11th ATP title in Belgrade following a 6-2, 6-7, 6-0 victory over world no. 1 Novak Djokovic. Andrey scored the first win over Novak from two encounters and wrapped up his third title of the season in two hours and 27 minutes. Djokovic gave his best to challenge the trophy in front of the home fans this week. He came from a set down in all four matches, although he had nothing left in the tank in the decider against the fellow top-10 rival today. Thus, the Serb experienced the fifth bagel in the ATP finals and missed a chance to defend the crown in front of the partisan crowd at his tennis center. Rublev won 24 points more than Djokovic thanks to sets one and three. The Russain fended off eight out of nine break chances and turned almost half of the return points into six breaks from 12 opportunities.
Andrey Rublev defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets in the Belgrade Open final.
Andrey fended off a break chance in the fourth game with a forehand winner and broke Novak at love in the next one after the Serb’s backhand error. Rublev held at love in game six to open a 4-2 gap and claim ten straight points. With nothing working his way, Djokovic hit a double fault in the seventh game to experience another break and fall 5-2 behind. Serving for the opener in game eight, Andrey held at 30 to claim the opener in style in 35 minutes. The home favorite broke at love with a volley winner in the second set’s second game to build the lead and gain a boost. Andrey broke back in game three to reduce the deficit, and they both served well until game ten.
Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, the Russian squandered five game chances and offered the Serb two set points. Andrey fended them off with winners and fired another from his forehand to prevail and lock the result at 5-5. Novak saved a break point in game 11 with a forehand winner and created three set points on the return in the next one. Rublev erased them with winners and introduced a tie break. Djokovic stayed focused in the decisive moments and claimed it 7-4 after Rublev’s volley error to introduce a decider after an hour and 53 minutes. Novak earned two break points in the final set’s first game and squandered them for a massive blow. Andrey was the only player on the court in the rest of the set, taking all six games and firing a forehand return winner at 5-0 to seal the deal and celebrate the title.