Astana Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic has extended his good form on the indoor hard courts on Thursday at the Astana Open, as he cruised past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-1 at the ATP 500 event in Kazakhstan. The Serbian required just 71 minutes to claim victory in his maiden clash against the World No. 34 van de Zandschulp, Follow Djokovic vs Zandschulp LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Astana Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic defeats Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets in second round of Astana Open – Check Highlights
Also Read: Astana Open Highlights: Novak Djokovic sails into round 2, beats Cristian Garin in straight sets – Check Djokovic vs Garin Highlights (insidesport.in)
Unmatched 🤩
Novak Djokovic defeats Botic van de Zandschulp: 6-3, 6-1.#AstanaOpen #ATP500 pic.twitter.com/UPRTvbqByL
— Astana Open • Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (@ktf_kz) October 6, 2022
Having arrived in Kazakhstan off the back of clinching his 89th tour-level crown in Tel Aviv, Djokovic is now on a six-match winning streak. “I think my serve worked very well when I needed to get out of the trouble in the first set particularly,” said Djokovic, who has not dropped serve in his past three matches.
“There were some 30/30 games, and when I broke his serve for 4-2, I faced a break point and I came in, and he had a look at that passing shot and he missed it. The match is decided in these moments. [Between] 5-2 or 4-3 up there is a big difference, and I served well to end the first set.”
From 1-1 in the second set, Djokovic reeled off five games in a row to clinch his 30th tour-level win of the year in style. “[In the] second set I think I started to read his serve better and just started swinging through the court more,” said Djokovic. “Botic is a quality tennis player. When he has time, he can hurt you, so I tried to take away that time from him and I’m very pleased with the way I played, particularly in the second.”
Djokovic is now up to 12th place in the ATP Live Race To Turin thanks to his two wins so far this week. The five-time ATP Finals champion needs to finish in the Top 20 in order to secure qualification for November’s season finale.
Djokovic has now reached the quarter-final stage in eight of the nine tournaments he has played in 2022. The 35-year-old will meet Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals in Astana after the US Open semi-finalist earlier prevailed 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 against ninth seed Marin Cilic.
Astana Open LIVE: Novak Djokovic defeats Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets in second round of Astana Open – Check Highlights
Follow Djokovic vs Zandschulp LIVE updates