ATP Belgrade Sunday Preview

Novak Djokovic vs. Feliciano Lopez

The hottest player in the sport will try to win his ATP World Tour-leading fifth title of the year in the final of the Serbia Open on Sunday, but a talented Spaniard will try to stop him from doing that.

World No. 2, Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 seed and 2009 champion at his home event, has expended little energy in reaching his fifth final of the year, winning his first two matches in straight sets and receiving a semifinal walkover from No. 7-seeded countryman Janko Tipsarevic, who had a leg injury.

“Bad news. Janko had to pull out of tonight’s semi-final match because of a muscle injury. I sincerely hope he will recover for the rest of the clay court season,” wrote Djokovic on social media. Djokovic is 26-0 on the season so far, the best start to a season since Ivan Lendl kicked off 1986 with a 29-0 win-loss record.

World No. 37, Feliciano Lopez, unseeded here, will try to stop Djokovic from his home title. Lopez has been a giant-killer this week, taking out No. 8 seed Juan Monaco and No. 4 seed Albert Montanes en route to the final, and he also put a stop to the comeback of former Top 5 player Fernando Gonzalez in the second round. He hasn’t lost a set in four matches en route to the final.

“I think it will be a great match for me to play. My confidence is really high at the moment and I feel great to play Novak. I know it’s going to be tough, he’s the best player this year. It will be a great experience” said Lopez about Djokovic.

Djokovic will play today his 36th ATP World Tour final (he is 22-13 in his first 35, including 4-3 on clay). Lopez is playing in his seventh ATP World Tour final (he is 2-4, including 0-1 on clay). Djokovic is 3-0 against Lopez in their head-to-head, two straight set wins in 2007 and a 63 26 64 win in Dubai this year. Djokovic has only lost six sets in 26 matches this year and that 6-2 set to Lopez was the most lopsided of them all. In that match, Djokovic won just three points more than Lopez (75 to 72).

The winner of Serbia Open will take 66,500 € and 250 South African Airways 2011 ATP Ranking points, and the runner-up will win 35,000 € and 150 South African Airways 2011 ATP Ranking points.