Novak Djokovic defeats Stefanos Tsitsipas in Astana Open final to win his 90th career ATP title
On a night when the first two seeds in every men’s single-sault final would be unseeded, the first two women’s singles matches in the history of the Astana Open had both produced a first set decider on the night.
The final was also the first time since 1999 that the women’s final of an ATP event was not held by a reigning world No 1. Both matches also featured the world No 5, the American Caroline Wozniacki, as the eventual winner.
In the men’s final, Novak Djokovic came from the final qualifying round to beat Australian qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 to claim his ninth ATP singles title at the event. In the women’s final, Caroline Wozniacki defeated world No 14 Jelena Jankovic 6-3, the third seed, to claim her sixth Astana Open title.
Tsetsipas had beaten Djokovic in the final of the 2017 US Open, however Djokovic came from a set down to defeat the Greek qualifier 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. Djokovic did not lose a set at the event, making only one error in the second set, and not losing a game until the tie-break. The 27-year-old, who had not dropped a game since January 1, will play in his ninth career ATP 500 semifinal.
The Astana Open was only the second men’s singles tournament to play with a 36-hole knockout format, with the previous event, the 2015 US Open, using a 36-hole format. Djokovic had won the event on the way to his maiden grand slam. Djokovic now holds the record for most consecutive Grand Slam semifinals with eight. (The most successive Grand Slam semifinals is six by Roger Federer.)
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