Game of contrasts in the final of the ATP in Belgrade II. Novak Djokovic, N ° 1 in the world and a great favorite before his people, in his tournament in the city where he was born, plays on Saturday the final against Slovak Alex Molcan (255 °), coming from the qualifying phase and playing his first definition on the big circuit.
Owner of 82 titles, with 18 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is the firm candidate in the run-up to Roland Garros. He only gave up one set in the week and is the man to beat by the surprising rival, who just in this Serbian contest got his first ATP level victory.
In the first 2021 version of the Belgrade ATP, the best of the professional circuit lost in three sets in the semifinal with the Russian Aslan Karatsev, Top 30 and great revelation of the year. Now 34 years old, Djokovic is going for his personal rematch and aiming to reach the 83rd official singles title.
In his final No. 119, the Serbian faces for the first time a totally unknown adversary, such as Molcan, who passed the qualifying in Belgrade and gave the surprise by beating Argentine Federico Delbonis (52 °), hero of Argentina in the semifinal. the conquest of the Davis Cup in 2016 against Croatia.
In this tournament, Molcan achieved his first triumphs on the ATP circuit and has already reached the final. But it is the homeowner’s turn, who organizes this tournament with his family, remodeled the club’s facilities and is lord and master there.
For this reason, Djokovic is a wide candidate at home, facing no less than Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year. Precisely, the Serbian won the only Major of 2021, the Australian Open.
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