A person very last dance to an additional: Why Novak Djokovic is playing Tel Aviv doubles with Jonathan Erlich

Following getting section of Roger Federer’s farewell at the Laver Cup, Novak Djokovic will be section of another past dance at the Tel Aviv Open this week.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner is set to group up in doubles with Israeli veteran Jonathan Erlich, the only participant with whom Djokovic has gained a doubles title in his vocation.

It will 45-yr-outdated Erlich’s last party just before he retires.

Who is Jonathan Erlich?

Erlich is possibly not a acquainted name to most tennis lovers. He is a doubles specialist who has only performed 12 singles matches in his vocation on the ATP Tour.

He has played just about 900 doubles matches and arrived at a occupation-significant rating of No. 5 in 2008. He has won 22 titles, the major of which was the Australian Open up in 2008 with Andy Ram.

His first ATP Tour doubles event was in Newport in 2000 and 10 yrs later on he teamed up with Djokovic to acquire at Queen’s.

Why is Djokovic playing doubles with Erlich?

Djokovic has performed doubles at all 4 Grand Slams as well as the Olympics, but the only tournament he has received was with Erlich.

The pair partnered up in 2010 when Djokovic was ranked No. 3 in the globe in singles. It has not been revealed how the partnership arrived about, but probably the relationship started off at the 2008 Australian Open up when Erlich received the doubles title and Djokovic gained his 1st Grand Slam singles title.

Djokovic posted a video to confirm he is wanting forward to becoming portion of Erlich’s farewell.

“I know this is heading to be your previous event,” reported the previous globe No. 1.

“The greatest memory of my lifestyle in doubles was with you. You gave me the satisfaction of successful the only doubles title of my daily life in Queen’s.

“You have constantly been very friendly to me and in direction of my staff. Most people enjoys you and every person will miss out on you on the tour. I glimpse ahead to observing you in Tel Aviv in your ‘last dance’.”

Djokovic and Erlich beat British pair Jamie Delgado and Jonathan Marray in their to start with match alongside one another at Queen’s. They then conquer Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares – who would go on to get to No. 1 and No. 2 in the doubles planet rankings respectively – ahead of coming from a set down to defeat Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman.

They followed up with a get over eighth seeds Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra and then sealed the title by beating Karol Beck and David Skoch in the final.

“First of all I want to thank Novak, he wanted to participate in with me,” said Erlich.

“He’s a good close friend, it has been an honour and I’ve appreciated each and every moment.”

It was the 1st grass title of Djokovic’s career in singles or doubles.

“It’s vital to me,” reported the former planet No. 1. “I was blessed to be actively playing with one particular of the most effective players in the environment.”

How much doubles has Djokovic played in his job?

Djokovic has performed doubles sporadically, normally after or two times a time.

His final doubles match was at the Davis Cup past November. He also played with fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic at the Paris Masters very last 12 months and partnered very long-time friend Carlos Gomez-Herrera on grass in Mallorca, building the closing.

He also manufactured the ultimate in Adelaide in 2007 with Radek Stepanek.

Djokovic has not played doubles at a Grand Slam because the 2007 Australian Open up. The 12 months ahead of he performed doubles at all four majors, winning just one particular match at Wimbledon with Daniele Bracciali.

What is actually remaining of 2022 period for Djokovic?

The Tel Aviv Open will be Djokovic’s initial rating celebration given that winning Wimbledon in July.

He is the prime seed and will be joined in the attract by former US Open champions Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic.

Djokovic skipped the overall really hard-court summer season as he was unable to enter Canada or the United States thanks to becoming unvaccinated, and has dropped down to No. 7 in the earth rankings.

At the Laver Cup he discovered he is set to play Tel Aviv this 7 days followed by an party in Kazakhstan and then the Paris Masters at the conclusion of October.

As it stands he is competent for the ATP Finals even with not currently being in the best eight in the race as Grand Slam winners qualify as extensive as they are in the major 20.

Even so, his program could be impacted by a wrist injury, which he exposed he has been managing soon after his singles loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“I have been struggling with my suitable wrist for the final four, five days, to be genuine. I have been preserving it beneath management,” he mentioned. “The two matches yesterday in all probability experienced an influence. Now was not effortless. I couldn’t serve as rapid or as correctly as I would like to. That has impacted the whole sport. Could be not actively playing matches almost a few months, and then conditions right here are these types of that the balls are really significant and gradual. You usually have to deliver a good deal of wrist action and pace, which could be the circumstance why I have been feeling soreness.”

Djokovic will not get the probability to contend at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga as Serbia did not qualify.

Consideration will as an alternative turn immediately after the ATP Finals to no matter if Djokovic will enjoy in Australia in 2023 just after remaining denied a visa earlier this calendar year mainly because of his vaccination status.

“It’s actually not in my fingers proper now,” Djokovic said at the Laver Cup. “So I’m hoping I will get some good information.”

Djokovic was deported from Australia in January right after his visa was revoked.