Novak Djokovic wins Italian Open for first tourney title of '22

Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Italian Open. IPA

Novak Djokovic wins Italian Open to secure first tournament title of 2022

By Adam Stites | Last updated 5/15/22

Novak Djokovic secured his first tournament win of 2022 on Sunday with a 6-0, 7-6 defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Italian Open.

Djokovic, 34, is the top-ranked men's singles player in the world, but hadn't won a tournament since being deported just before the start of the Australian Open. He lost in the Dubai Tennis Championships, Monte-Carlo Masters, Serbian Open and Madrid Open before finally getting a title Sunday.

Djokovic. Is. BACK @DjokerNole | @InteBNLdItalia | #IBI22 pic.twitter.com/HSSHQ4gh4l
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 15, 2022

Djokovic dominated on first serve Sunday, placing 70 percent and winning 81 percent of his first serve points. While Tsitsipas jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set, Djokovic rallied to force a tiebreaker that he won 7-5.

Next on the ATP schedule is the 2022 French Open, which is expected to allow unvaccinated players like Djokovic to compete. Russian-born players, like No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev, are also expected to be allowed to compete, despite Wimbledon's ban.

Djokovic has now won six titles at the Italian Open, second to only Rafael Nadal's 10 tournament titles.

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