Novak Djokovic claimed his first ATP title on July 23, 2006, in Amersfoort, lifting an ATP trophy at 19. Eighteen years later, Novak is essentially the most embellished participant of all time, conquering 25 Majors, 40 Masters 1000 titles and securing eight year-end no.
1 honors. Djokovic entered the 2006 season as one of many younger weapons to observe. Nonetheless, the Serb struggled to current his A-game, notching simply two ATP wins between Rotterdam and Roland Garros. Novak made a reputation for himself in Paris, reaching his first main quarter-final and difficult the defending champion Rafael Nadal earlier than retiring after the second set.
Djokovic entered the second week at Wimbledon earlier than returning to clay in Amersfoort, discovering the rhythm on the slowest floor and heading all the best way.
Novak defeated Boris Pashanski, Tomas Zib, Marc Gicquel and the previous Roland Garros finalist Guillermo Coria en path to the title conflict, transferring nearer to the trophy.
Djokovic battled for it towards the previous champion Nicolas Massu from Chile and prevailed 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes, securing his first ATP title and beginning his unimaginable journey. The rivals stayed neck and neck, and Novak cast the essential benefit in essentially the most superior exchanges, outplaying the extra skilled rival and sealing the deal in straight units.
The younger gun confronted 4 break factors and defended two. Novak generated ten alternatives on the return and seized three, doing sufficient to seal the deal with out taking part in a decider.
Novak Djokovic claimed his first ATP title 18 years in the past in Amersfoort.
They struggled to search out the primary serve, and Djokovic produced extra environment friendly numbers behind the preliminary shot.
A youngster made a dependable begin, holding within the opening sport and creating 4 break factors within the subsequent one. Massu sprayed a forehand error on the final, dropping serve and propelling Djokovic in entrance. Novak cemented the break with a backhand down the road winner within the third sport and produced one other positive maintain in sport 5 for 4-1.
Nicolas pulled the break again with a forehand winner in sport seven, lowering the hole and holding with an ace a couple of minutes later for 4-4 and a lift. Novak misplaced the bottom a bit in these moments and struggled on serve in sport 9.
The younger gun performed towards two break factors and stayed centered to defend them, closing the sport with a service winner and opening a 5-4 lead.
Massu locked the outcome at 5-5 and served to remain within the set once more in sport 12. The Chilean landed a volley winner on a break level, surviving and bringing the sport dwelling to introduce a tie break. Novak trailed 3-0 earlier than taking seven of the subsequent 9 factors, clinching the breaker 7-5 and wrapping up the opening set after over 80 minutes of grueling tennis.
Djokovic gained a lift and secured a break initially of the second set, constructing a stable benefit.
Nonetheless, Massu pulled the break again and returned to the optimistic facet, desperate to struggle till the top.
They served nicely within the upcoming video games earlier than Novak made a push on the return in sport seven, securing a break and confirming it with a service winner a couple of minutes later. Nicolas served to remain within the match at 3-5 and confronted match factors.
He saved them and held, lowering the hole and prolonging the motion. Djokovic served for his first ATP title in sport ten and moved excessive after Massu’s forehand error, beginning an enormous celebration along with his girlfriend Jelena and the coach Marian Majda.
