‘I can expect a big battle but I’m ready for it,’ Novak Djokovic all set to win his maiden title of the season, rates Stefanos Tsitsipas amongst the best clay-court players

‘I can expect a big battle but I’m ready for it,’ Novak Djokovic all set to win his maiden title of the season, rates Stefanos Tsitsipas amongst the best clay-court players

Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas

After months of struggle on tour due to his vaccination status, Novak Djokovic is finally back to doing what he does best- winning. The Serb has played a brilliant tournament so far in Rome and is through to the final of the Italian Open for the 12th time. He got the better of 5th seed Casper Ruud in the semifinals in straight sets 6-4,6-3.

This will be Djokovic’s second final of the season as he’ll look to win his maiden title of the year. Earlier on home soil, Djokovic made it to the final of the Serbia Open where he lost to Andrey Rublev. He is very close to attaining his best form and will want to have a title under his belt before defending his French Open title.

He will face Monte Carlo Masters champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The Greek is one of the best players on tour on clay and has proved time and again his skills on clay. He has won the Monte Carlo title for the last 2 years and is the defending Roland Garros finalist.

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‘He is one of the top two, three clay-court players’: Novak Djokovic on Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic after the 2021 French Open finals
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic after the 2021 French Open finals

Speaking about facing Tsitsipas, Djokovic said that he is looking forward to playing yet another final in one of the biggest tournaments in the world. The Serb acknowledged that Tsitsipas is in top form and claimed that he is one of the top 2-3 best players on clay in the world.

“Another final against him at one of the biggest tournaments we have in the world,” Djokovic said. “He’s definitely in form. The last few years he’s been [one of the] top two, three clay-court players. In general, top two, three in the world.”

He further lauded Tsitsipas by mentioning his triumphs in Monte Carlo and said that he is expecting a big battle in the final and is titally ready for it.

“But especially on the clay court, winning Monte Carlo, always reaching the final stages of the biggest events on clay. I can expect a big battle on the court, but I’m ready for it,” he said.

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