Novak Djokovic Surprised by Opponent at Hellenic Championship
Novak Djokovic competed in the Hellenic Championship in Greece on Thursday, marking his presence in his new home country. The Serbian tennis legend expressed surprise at the performance of his opponent, Nuno Borges, after securing his spot in his 199th ATP Tour-level semi-final.
Chasing Federer’s Semi-final Record
Djokovic is now just 13 semi-final appearances away from breaking Roger Federer’s record, with Federer having reached 211 semi-finals in his career. The Hellenic Championship is an ATP 250 event, and Djokovic arrived here after relocating to Athens with his family earlier this year.
Family and First Professional Match in Greece
- Djokovic's brother serves as the tournament director.
- The 38-year-old played his first professional match in Greece earlier this week against Alejandro Tabilo.
- He won his opening match against Tabilo despite a tiebreak challenge.
Thrilling Match Against Nuno Borges
During the match against Borges, Djokovic faced a tense moment serving at 4-4 in the first set, with two break points against him. Borges held his nerve to win that game and claimed the first set in a tiebreak. Djokovic then fought hard to clinch the second set 6-4, sealing a 7-6, 6-4 victory.
"It was a very physical battle. I thought that Nuno played on a very high level."
Summary
Novak Djokovic's challenging match against Nuno Borges highlights his resilience and pursuit of Roger Federer’s record, while settling into life and competition in his new home of Athens.