Djokovic lifts his 90th title with Astana Open victory

Novak Djokovic won the 90th tour-level title of his c a r e e r wi t h a c o mf o r t a - ble victor y over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Astana Open.

Djokovic, who also won in Tel Aviv last week, needed just 75 minutes to record a 6-3, 6-4 victory, his seventh s t r a i g h t s u c c e s s a g a i n s t third seed Tsitsipas.

When the on-court interviewer observed that Djokovic probably never dreamed of 90 ATP Tour titles, the 21-time grand slam winner shook his head.

"I dared to dream, actua l l y," D j o k o v i c s a i d . "I always hoped that I would b e g o i n g to h ave a g r e a t career.

"Obviously, I didn't know the amount of finals I was going to play, the amount of tournaments I was going to win, but my intention was always to reach the highest heights in our sport."

The 35-year- old added: "I'm just very grateful and blessed to be able to play this well at this stage of my life. You know, 35 is not 25.

"But I think the exp erie n c e , p r o b a b l y, i n t h e s e kinds of matches and big occasions helps as well to approach mentally in the right way.

"I could not ask for a better restart of the season. I'm super pumped and motivated to end the season as well as I have done these past couple of weeks."

I n To k y o , Tay l o r Fr i t z won an all-american final at the Japan Open, edging compatriot Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2).

Fritz only just made it to Japan in time for his first match after a week in Covid-19 quarantine in Korea, but will be ranked inside the world's top 10 (eighth) for the first time today and also moved up to seventh in the Race To Turin.