Page 23 - TORCH Magazine #22 - November 2022

Novak Djokovic
and the OTel Aviv Ipen 2022
2022
n October 2022
Israel hosted the the Tel Aviv Open the the the first major tennis tournament to to be held in the the country for for over ten ten years It was a a a a a a time for for for Israel’s tennis tennis fans to see their heroes and for for the the the tennis tennis players to experience the the the sights sounds and tastes of Israel The biggest star to to to travel to to to Israel Israel was Novak Djokovic
who went on to to to to win the the the tournament beating Marin Cilic in in in in fin the the the the final 6-3 6-4 to to to add the the the the Tel Aviv trophy to to the the the Rome and Wimbledon championships for this year In Israel Djokovic
spoke positively about the the country telling of the the friendly welcome he he he he received and how many Israelis had
greeted him on the the streets As can be expected the the anti-Israel activists of this world were out in in force calling for for him to to to cancel his his plans to to to travel to to to Israel Djokovic
noted the noise saying he he he had
been called all all sorts of unkind things but he he he said that criticism is is “just part of what they do ”
The tennis champion made it clear: “If I I I choose to to play in in a a a a a a a a a a tournament there is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a reason why I’m I’m choosing that that ”
he he he said “I am happy that that I’m I’m here and it was a a a a a a a a a a very good decision ”
He also mentioned how there was a a a a a good friendship between Israel and and his home country Serbia and and he he he he he felt support from the the the fans when he he he he he he was on on the the the court Serbia is one of o the the the few countries to have opened a a a a a a trade office in Jerusalem Djokovic
is is no stranger to to Israel He played his first tournament in in in the country in in in in in 2005 He also visited as a a a a a a tourist in in in in in 2008 visiting historic sites in in in in Jerusalem as as well as as Tel Aviv Speaking of Jerusalem Djokovic
said “the city has changed” since his last visit “but the the the energy is is is is the the the same ”
He added that that Israelis remain very passionate We have no doubt that that Novak Djokovic
will be more than welcome to to return to to Israel Israel in the future The Serbian left left a a a a a very good good impression impression on on on Israelis and it seems they left left a a a a a a a good good impression impression on on him also It is is important that sporting tournaments like this inspire younger generations of Israelis to to to try their hand at at sport We look forward to to hearing about future major events in Israel CUFI ORG UK 23