Djokovic Comes Back for ATP Metz Title
Posted on October 9, 2006Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic claimed his second title of 2006 after rallying from a set down to defeat Austrian Jurgen Melzer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win the Open de Moselle in Metz.
Djokovic was cheered on by his family and friends, who surprised the 19-year-old by flying in from Belgrade on a private jet, arriving 30 minutes before the final.
"This is the best feeling I can have," Djokovic said. "I win my second career title in my third final. I am having right now the best year in my career. I played this week the best tennis in my life."
Djokovic blasted 10 aces and converted four of 11 break points during the 1 hr., 51 min. victory, which followed his first ATP title in Amersfoort in July (d. Massu). Djokovic's 34 match wins in 2006 is second only to Andy Murray's circuit-best 37 wins for teenagers. The Serb has won 18 of his past 22 matches in a run that also includes a runner-up finish in Umag.
Melzer led Djokovic by a set and a break when he won the first game of the second set. But Djokovic hit back hard, breaking Melzer two consecutive times. In the third set the Serb claimed breaks at 1-1 and 3-1 and saved all five break points he faced in the set.
"Today, it was again a tough one and I didn't start well," Djokovic said. "He was a set and a break up. At that point he was playing really well. I don't know how but I managed to come back and take his serve again and at this point his game and energy level went down and I was able to win the title."
Austria's No.1 Jurgen Melzer entered the final on a 10-match winning streak dating back to his first ATP title in Bucharest in mid September. After a dismal 1-8 start to the year, Melzer has gone 30-16 for an overall record of 31-24.
"It was a tough one, of course," Melzer said. "Before the final I knew it was going to be a difficult one. Novak is a great player; this year he has improved a lot."
Djokovic was cheered on by his family and friends, who surprised the 19-year-old by flying in from Belgrade on a private jet, arriving 30 minutes before the final.
"This is the best feeling I can have," Djokovic said. "I win my second career title in my third final. I am having right now the best year in my career. I played this week the best tennis in my life."
Djokovic blasted 10 aces and converted four of 11 break points during the 1 hr., 51 min. victory, which followed his first ATP title in Amersfoort in July (d. Massu). Djokovic's 34 match wins in 2006 is second only to Andy Murray's circuit-best 37 wins for teenagers. The Serb has won 18 of his past 22 matches in a run that also includes a runner-up finish in Umag.
Melzer led Djokovic by a set and a break when he won the first game of the second set. But Djokovic hit back hard, breaking Melzer two consecutive times. In the third set the Serb claimed breaks at 1-1 and 3-1 and saved all five break points he faced in the set.
"Today, it was again a tough one and I didn't start well," Djokovic said. "He was a set and a break up. At that point he was playing really well. I don't know how but I managed to come back and take his serve again and at this point his game and energy level went down and I was able to win the title."
Austria's No.1 Jurgen Melzer entered the final on a 10-match winning streak dating back to his first ATP title in Bucharest in mid September. After a dismal 1-8 start to the year, Melzer has gone 30-16 for an overall record of 31-24.
"It was a tough one, of course," Melzer said. "Before the final I knew it was going to be a difficult one. Novak is a great player; this year he has improved a lot."