Rublev robs Djokovic of third Serbia Open title

Serbia Open | Draw | Order of play

Andrey Rublev won the Serbia Open, preventing home favourite Novak Djokovic from winning his third title in Belgrade, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-0.

“To win a title here feels double special,” said Rublev on court afterwards, saying that Belgrade as a city reminded him of Moscow.

Djokovic has had a testing week, with a mammoth Round of 16 match against Laslo Djere which lasted almost three and a half hours, and had gone three sets in every single one of his matches – most recently a trial against Karen Khachanov in the semi-final.

Both players headed off court after a brutal second set which lasted one hour and 18 minutes, and won by Djokovic on his seventh set point.

And the top seed could not recover physically in time to put up as much of a fight in the decider.

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