Djokovic, 35, is in Tel Aviv this week after returning to competitive action at the Laver Cup in London last weekend, having not played since Wimbledon. Featuring in the team tournament for the first time in four years, the reigning Wimbledon champion won two of his three matches.
However, his singles loss to Felix-Auger Aliassime on the final day was pivotal, as Team World reeled off three straight wins to win their first Laver Cup. The Serb has now arrived in Tel Aviv, where he’s the top seed at the Watergen Open.
The 21-time Grand Slam winner said in his pre-match press conference that he still has the “passion and hunger” to play at the highest level despite his stellar accomplishments.
Novak Djokovic will play both singles and doubles - where he will partner the retiring Jonathan Erlich - this week.
“It was the loudest atmosphere I ever experienced” - Novak Djokovic on his previous experience of playing in Israel
Novak Djokovic is set to play in Israel for the first time in nearly two decades. Explaining his decision to do so, Djokovic said that he wanted to be in action for three consecutive weeks after appearing in the Laver Cup last weekend.
In 2006, the then World No. 70 won both his Davis Cup singles in Ramat Hasharon near Tel Aviv - beating Noam Okun and Dudi Sela in straight sets.
Reminiscing about that particular occasion, Djokovic said it was the “loudest atmosphere” he had ever experienced.
The World No. 7 said about playing doubles with Erlich - who is retiring this week:
Novak Djokovic will open his singles campaign against Pablo Andujar. The Serb will be in doubles action tonight against Bart Stevens and Sander Arends.
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