Novak Djokovic said he is "super-pumped and motivated" to finish the 2022 season on a high after winning his second ATP Tour title in as many weeks on Sunday.
Djokovic, 35, comfortably defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in the Astana Open final on Sunday, a week after securing the Tel Aviv trophy. It was the Serb's fourth title this year from just 10 events, his limited schedule a consequence of certain entry rules prohibiting individuals unvaccinated against Covid-19 from entering a country.
This infamously played out in Australia in January when Djokovic, who thought he had been granted medical exemption to enter the country under a special visa, was ultimately deported after spending several days in an immigration detention hotel.
"I could not ask for a better restart of the season. I'm super-pumped and motivated to end the season as well as I have done these past couple of weeks," said the former world No 1, now ranked seventh.
Despite his truncated season, Djokovic has hit several new milestones. His Rome Masters triumph in May gave him a 38th Masters, while his successful Wimbledon title defence in July equalled Pete Sampras's mark of seven at the All England Club and took him to 21 Grand Slams. Only Rafael Nadal, with 22, has more men's majors.
All this in a year which saw him booted out of Melbourne and banned from travelling to North America over his continued refusal to be vaccinated.
With the exception of the Laver Cup in London, which doubled up as Roger Federer's farewell, Djokovic didn't play for the best part of three months after Wimbledon. His "restart" in Israel came 16 years after he last played in the country.
Djokovic's determination not to waver over his vaccination stance meant he missed two of the year's four Grand Slams, at the Australian and US Opens, and four of eight Masters in Indian Wells, Miami, Montreal, and Cincinnati.
However, his win in Kazakhstan on Sunday allowed him to book a place in the ATP Finals for a 15th time. Only Federer (18) and Jimmy Connors and Nadal (16 each) have reached the season-ending showpiece on more occasions.
When the event takes place in Turin in November, the Serb will attempt to draw level with Federer as a six-time winner having been crowned champion in 2008 and every year from 2012-15.
Before then, Djokovic, the only man to have won all Masters titles twice, will defend his Paris Masters crown.
At the end of the ATP Tour season, Djokovic will make his way to Dubai for the inaugural World Tennis League, which will also feature the likes of Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, former world No 2 Alexander Zverev, and women's world No 1 Iga Swiatek.
-
Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy following his victory against Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final, on Sunday, July 10, 2022. Getty -
The Duchess of Cambridge hands over the trophy to Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic at the All England Club. Getty -
Australia's Nick Kyrgios holds the runners-up trophy. AP -
Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. AP -
Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Nick Kyrgios. PA -
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios after the match. Getty -
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning match point at the All England Club. Getty -
Novak Djokovic after beating Nick Kyrgios. AP -
Novak Djokovic celebrates in the stands with his coaches after winning the final. Reuters -
Nick Kyrgios duriing the match. EPA -
Australia's Nick Kyrgios in action during his defeat against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. AFP -
Novak Djokovic plays a backhand against Nick Kyrgios. Getty -
Nick Kyrgios during the match against Novak Djokovic. Getty -
A frustrated Nick Kyrgios during the match. PA -
Novak Djokovic stretches for a backhand against Nick Kyrgios. Getty -
Australia's Nick Kyrgios celebrates a point. AP -
Novak Djokovic in action during the final against Nick Kyrgios. Reuters -
Nick Kyrgios returns a tweener during the first set. Getty -
Novak Djokovic wipes his forehead during a break. AFP -
General view of Novak Djokovic against Nick Kyrgios at the All England Club. PA -
Australia's Nick Kyrgios returns the ball. AFP -
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios before the match. Getty
"I'm just very grateful and blessed to be able to play this well at this stage of my life," Djokovic said on Sunday. "You know, 35 is not 25."
When his roller-coaster year ends, Djokovic will hope he'll be able to fly to Melbourne and claim a 10th Australian Open despite the cancellation of his visa in January triggering a three-year ban on returning.
The signs are encouraging.
"We are on the right track to win back all the top players," Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley told The Australian newspaper last week.
"We are in a different time than nine months ago and I think the environment has completely changed. People are moving freely around the world again and we hope to have the best players here in January."
