By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Novak Djokovic dismissed Cristian Garin 6-1, 6-1 to roar into the Astana Open round of 16 with his 13th win in his last 14 matches.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Tennis Federation Facebook
Closed roofs and hungry opponents can't stop Novak Djokovic's upward mobility.
Give the former world No. 1 an hour and Djokovic will give you dynamic victory.
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A precise Djokovic dissected Cristian Garin 6-1, 6-1 roaring into the Astana Open round of 16 in 61 minutes.
Empowered by his run to his 89th career title in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Djokovic continues to turn indoor season into his own personal victory tour.
It was Djokovic's 13th win in his last 14 matches with his lone loss in that span coming against Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Laver Cup in London.
"From the start to the end it was a great performance," Djokovic said. "Playing in a new tournament in different conditions, first match, it’s never easy. "You are looking to see how you can adapt but I did it perfectly really. I played as well as I can, just made him work and used every opportunity that was presented to me."
Dotting all corners of the service box, Djokovic dictated with his serve and first strike.
The seven-time Wimbledon winner served 60 percent, did not face a break point and permitted just six points on serve, including winning 12 of 14 second-serve points.
Carving out a clever drop shot, Djokovic earned the double break for a 4-1 lead.
That sequence left a frustrated Garin, playing his his second tournament since July, screaming into his hang in angst. Djokovic won 12 of 13 points on serve stretching his lead to 5-1.
The seventh game showed why denting Djokovic these days is so difficult. After Djokovic blasted a clean backhand winner down the line, Garin had to back off the baseline a bit out of respect for the deep ball.
Seeing that positional shift, Djokovic pounced immediately sifting another drop shot to earn set point. Djokovic roped a backhand down the line closing a commanding 24-minute opening set.
The 35-year-old Serbian streaked through the final five games raising his 2022 record to 29-6.
Continuing his quest for a fourth title of the season and 90th of his career, Djokovic will play Botic van de Zandschulp, also a 6-1, 6-1 victor, for a quarterfinal spot.
On Sunday, Djokovic defeated Marin Cilic for the 19th time in 21 meetings.
Today, 2014 US Open champion Cilic edged Oscar Otte 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-2. Cilic converted three of 16 break-point chances setting up a round-of-16 clash against Karen Khachanov, who topped American serve-and-volleyer Maxime Cressy in his opener.
French left-hander Adrian Mannarino outlasted David Goffin 3-6, 6-1, 7-5. Mannarino's win came one round after lucky loser Goffin toppled world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Emil Ruusuvuori stormed through seven straight games stopping Sofia champion Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-0, 6-2.