Novak Djokovic caps perfect week in Belgrade with 83rd career ATP title

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic battled back from an early break down twice to beat Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan in the Belgrade final on Saturday, 6-4, 6-3, and win the 83rd ATP title of his career.

It was also his third career title in Belgrade, having won his home event in 2009 and 2011.

“It’s been a while since I last played here in front of this crowd,” an elated Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “We did play a tournament here a month ago but there was no crowd, so it was a completely different feeling. To be holding a trophy here once again after 10 years, it’s really special.

“It couldn’t be a better lead-up to Roland Garros.”

The No. 255-ranked Molcan was having an absolute breakthrough week in Belgrade. Having never won a tour-level match beforehand, he made it all the way to his first ATP final. And he brought that energy into the final, too, going up an early break twice in the first set, first for 1-0, then for 3-2.

But Djokovic clawed back every time and eventually took the opening set, and after the two traded breaks one more time midway through the second set, he broke again for 5-3 and served it out.

“I feel that from Rome I’ve been striking the ball better,” Djokovic said. “Just finding the timing and using the court better, moving actually better, not being as half a step late as I was probably in Monte Carlo in the beginning of the clay court season, or the first tournament in Belgrade. I feel like Rome and this tournament have been important for the confidence and my preparation for Roland Garros.

“I’m ready, I’m fit, I’m motivated—I’m just very happy with the lead-up to Paris.”

The title capped a perfect week for Djokovic, who celebrated his 34th birthday last Saturday and now picks up his 83rd career ATP title. He’s currently fifth on the list for most career ATP titles in the Open Era, after Jimmy Connors (109), Roger Federer (103), Ivan Lendl (94) and Rafael Nadal (88).

Along the way he also moved up to No. 5 on the list for most career tour-level wins in the Open Era. He started the week with 950 and finished it with 954, passing Guillermo Vilas (951). He now only trails the same four players: Connors (1,274), Federer (1,243), Lendl (1,068) and Nadal (1,022).

The 23-year-old Molcan, who came into the ATP 250 event in Belgrade with an 0-2 career record at tour-level, is now projected to break the Top 200 on the ATP rankings for the first time.

“I played good tennis here,” the Slovak said. “I was really, really fighting so hard to be in the finals, and today I tried as well, but it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t playing badly, but I played against Djokovic, so you have to play unbelievably good to beat him. But hopefully I can continue playing on this level.

“I’m not sad that I lost, because I lost against Djokovic, who is the best player in the world.”