For reasons that are well known, Djokovic didn't reach the first final of the season at the Serbian Open until late April, which may come much later than most fans expected.
1. Missed the first title of the season and the 5th Laureus Best Male Athlete Award
Due to the serious decline in physical fitness, Djokovic was almost exhausted by the time he grabbed seven in the second set, and the decisive set was kept clean by the world's eighth rublev, missing the first title of the season.
If Dubai's defeat to Viselli is the other side's brave play, two consecutive defeats is not unusual, but from the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters, to the Serbian Open he played 5 consecutive 3 sets, last night's final three consecutive world first staged a good reversal, two of which against Davidović Fukina, Rublev lost, the two deciders combined only took 1 set, at present physical fitness is his urgent need to solve the problem.
In an interview on the court, he said: "I am sorry because of the way the third set was presented. It's a personal sport, and if something goes wrong, the engine doesn't work. A lot of it's about emotions, thank you (the audience) for pushing me to the final. ”
Although his coach Ivanisevic revealed his condition before the Monte Carlo Masters began, it is unclear how the world number one, who will turn 35 next month, will be ill.
At the press conference, he elaborated on the situation: "I didn't like the feeling of the second set coming to an end, basically the whole third set was very similar to what I experienced in Monte Carlo. I don't know if it could be due to my illness or something like that. At least that bad feeling came in game four rather than the first, and things went slowly but steadily. Paris is my big goal and hopefully in Paris I can recover and be ready to play in five sets and three wins. ”
Looking back on the match, Djokovic said: "I didn't feel too tired until the end of the second set (the second set was cashed in on the 7th set) and it was a long tug-of-war at 5-4 and I didn't feel good since then. ”
"I think I played well in the scramble for seven and I was ready for the next set. After the medical suspension, I came out to change my clothes and prepare to wear another set. It's not a pleasant thing for people to see on the pitch and I'm very sorry about it, but I don't want to retire because I know people want to see me play and want to win, but this time it's not like that. ”
Not only did he miss the first title of the new season, Djokovic also missed the Lawrence Best Male Athlete Award this year. The world's first won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon three Grand Slam titles last season, only one final away from the annual Grand Slam, and was crowned the year-end world number one for the 7th time, surpassing idol Sampras to create an impressive record, and also won a total of 5 championships throughout the season.
Such dazzling results are considered by many people to be a winner of the award, and tennis has always been favored by the Lawrence Award, but he was defeated by F1 racing driver Verstappen, who won the first world championship of his career. The Dutchman, who played for Red Bull Racing, won 10 Grand Prix titles and set a record 18 podium finishes.
2． "I really feel younger than 35"
In this game, Djokovic, who always lost the first set, admitted that this was beyond his control, and he also wanted to win easily by losing two straight sets.
What was once a commendable, bottomless physical fitness is now an urgent problem to be solved, and the fans with golden eyes have captured Djokovic's body muscle lines that are not as clear as before, and there is even extra flesh on the waist.
As we all know, the red clay ball is slow, the most test of the ability to hold, the competition of endurance and will, no physical ability to do support, it is difficult to walk.
Djokovic, who turned pro in 2003, said: "Every stage of my career, especially after 20 years on the tour, has a different way of handling things. ”
"My life has changed a lot in the last 10 years and my body has changed as well. So you have to adapt to it, understand the changes, understand what I'm going through, figure out the biology. I often work with my team to develop strategies, organisations and plans that help me reach my peak at the right time and be able to compete with young players. “
"For me, age is just a number, and I really feel younger than 35."
Djokovic maintained incredible consistency in the face of intense competition, which ensured he could set all the records. However, he admits that it is difficult to meet people's expectations of him.
"All the expectations people have of you, they're used to seeing you stay at that level for 10, 15 years. They always want you to win 99% of the races, but obviously that's not possible. You have to accept the fact that you're going to lose, you don't feel like you're in great shape, and you may need more time to get into your best form. ”
He needs smarter shots to stay competitive against players 10-15 years younger than him when they are across the net, and he will do his best to keep up with the younger players.
This is only Djokovic's third game of the season, overall the performance is mediocre, if the condition can not be recovered in time, can not improve the status, then he will be in the next Madrid Masters, Rome Masters and even the French Open will have a bleak future.
The three tournaments are close to each other, especially less than a month before the French Open, which opened on Deyo's birthday. Moreover, nadal, the king of clay who lost in the semi-finals of the French Open last year, is in hot form this season, do you think the defending champion of the French Open this year, Djokovic, can succeed?
3. Solemn thanks ceremony, adjust the team, want to upgrade the hometown race to ATP500 race
Djokovic invited meritorious coach Vaida, physiotherapist Amanović and former physical fitness coach Grystić to the post-match award ceremony, as well as 12-year-old online school teacher Piric, who left home to learn, and everyone happily accepted the host's carefully prepared gifts, and sincerely delivered warm testimonials that they had worked with Djokovic for many years, and finally embraced each other and took a group photo.
Vajda and Djokovic's relationship is like a father and son, a mentor, low-key and gentle, like the crucial sea god needle in the team, and has been involved in the Serbian king's 15-year full career track.
The two worked together on a hit-and-shoot in 2006, and with the exception of their brief separation in 2016, Vajda has been his coach. The Slovak once said in an interview that "because only if you accompany the players on the field, you know what happened in this tournament", but he has previously revealed that he is tired of running around the world, traveling around, and wants to return to the field to accompany his family, and finally the two chose to break up peacefully last season.
Physiotherapist Amanović also quit the Djokovic team because he wanted to return home, accepted another job as serbian ball king, and threw himself into the management of the Novak Tennis Center.
Djokovic's current team is only coach Ivanivizi, physio therapist Badio and physicalist Panizzi, that is, from the original two sets of teams to one set, whether the future will absorb new blood to join is unknown.
Djokovic, like last year, also expressed the idea of upgrading the Serbian Open, which he believes is a great opportunity to develop Belgrade and even Serbia. It is worth mentioning that ATP also intends to increase the number of ATP500 matches, and perhaps the wishes of local darlings can be realized.
The atmosphere was so great to the naked eye that it was almost packed, even in doubles. Fan meetings, tree planting activities and other promotional activities are very meaningful, and champion Rublev also praised them in the semi-finals, thanking the audience for cheering him from the first ball to the end.
With the Serbian king sitting at home, and the young third brother as the director responsible for managing everything, and also inviting Thiem, Khachanov, Fognini and other stars to join, for a ATP250 tournament lineup can be said to be star-studded. This year, more than 1,000 television stations broadcast a tennis feast specially prepared by the Djokovic family for the audience.
Djokovic is very grateful to Rublev and Kachanov for coming to Belgrade, "Because it's just an ATP250 competition, they can go to other competitions, to get more points, they used to participate in the ATP500 Barcelona Open." 」 ”
More interestingly, runner-up Djokovic generously shouted at the award ceremony that Rublev would return to defend his title, drawing him in the squad for next year in advance. Do you predict who will be in the final next year?
(Source: Tennis House Author: Linghe Xianying)