Novak Djokovic will seek his 92nd ATP title in Adelaide next week. Novak will kick off the season at the ATP 250 event, with Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner and Denis Shapovalov as his main rivals.
Djokovic seeks the first trophy in Adelaide since 2007. The Serb claimed his third ATP title in Adelaide 16 years ago for a solid start to the season ahead of the Australian Open. Novak faced world no. 153 Chris Guccione in the title clash and prevailed 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes.
The Melbourne native played his first ATP final, pushing the top-20 rival to the limit. Novak saved five out of six break points and grabbed four return games from ten opportunities. Guccione hit three aces in the encounter’s opening game and came from 40-0 down in the second to earn four break opportunities.
Djokovic denied them with winners and brought the game home after an unreturned serve for 1-1. Novak produced his magic on the return in game five and broke at love with a backhand down the line winner for a 3-2 advantage.
Djokovic held at 15 in the sixth game and moved 5-3 in front with a powerful serve. The Serb broke for the second time in game nine to wrap up the opener and gain a boost. Novak held at the beginning of the second set with a volley winner, and Chris locked the result at 1-1 with a hold at love.
Both players served well in the following games, and the Aussie had no room for errors at 4-5. He landed a service winner to bring the game home and extend the set that went into a tie break. The Aussie opened a 3-2 lead with a lob winner and landed a volley winner in the next one.
Novak reduced the deficit with a forehand return winner and leveled the score at 4-4 with another forehand winner. Djokovic gained a 5-4 lead with a backhand crosscourt winner before Guccione locked the result at 5-5 with a volley winner for more drama.
Novak Djokovic won the title in Adelaide in 2007 at 19.
Novak saved a set point at 5-6 with a service winner before falling behind after Chris’ volley winner. The Aussie sealed the set with a volley winner at the net in the 14th point to introduce a decider.
Guccione saved a break point at the start of the final set with a powerful serve before facing another after a double fault. The Aussie erased it with an unreturned serve before the Serb earned the third chance with a backhand down the line winner.
Guccione netted a volley and gave Djokovic a crucial break and an early advantage. Novak served well in games two and four to forge a 3-1 lead and settle into a fine rhythm. The Serb created three break points with a backhand winner at the net in game five.
Guccione denied them with winners before Djokovic seized the fourth after the rival’s volley mistake. Novak experienced a break in game six after Chris’ backhand return winner and earned a break point in the next one.
The Aussie denied it with a service winner and reduced the deficit to 4-3. Djokovic held at 30 in game eight, and Guccione moved to 4-5 after deuce in the next one. With no time left on the return, Chris made one last push and created a break chance in game ten with a cracking forehand winner.
Novak saved it with a service winner and squandered the first match point with a forehand error. Chris fended off the second match point with a forehand winner, giving his best to prolong the action. The Serb placed a backhand crosscourt winner to earn the third match point. Novak converted it with a service winner to start a massive celebration of his third ATP crown.
