Novak Djokovic’s season has not been passable thus far. The Serbian veteran has not but gained a title this 12 months and has suffered a number of surprising defeats towards opponents far beneath him.
Former World #1 was injured through the French Open and needed to function on his knee three weeks earlier than the Wimbledon Championships. His participation within the third Slam of the season was unsure, however the Serbian recovered in file time and confirmed up in London with many uncertainties.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion benefited from a positive draw and reached the second week, the place he simply defeated the Danish Holger Rune and the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (Nole didn’t need to play the quarterfinals as a result of retirement of Alex de Minaur). Within the ultimate Novak hoped to take revenge towards Carlos Alcaraz, who had mocked him on the fifth set within the ultimate final 12 months. The Spaniard dominated the 2024 ultimate by exhibiting a surprising superiority from begin to end. Djokovic by no means actually made it into the match and needed to postpone the appointment together with his eighth title on the Championships. The previous world number one will attempt to redeem himself on the Paris Olympics, the place he hopes to lastly win the gold medal for his nation. The Olympic match was by no means fortunate for Nole, who for a number of causes has all the time dissatisfied expectations.
Nole is in hassle
The clear defeat suffered within the ultimate of Wimbledon towards Carlos Alcaraz, posed a number of questions on the way forward for Novak Djokovic and his probabilities of successful one other Main. Throughout a current interview with ‘Star Sports activities’, Vijay Amritraj mirrored on Djokovic’s present standing: “Once I performed towards Borg, Connors, McEnroe, the perfect of my era, I believed that on my good day, nobody might beat me. I used to be going to beat them. I knew it, they knew it, and I knew they knew it. Now, of their minds, Alcaraz and Sinner additionally know win towards Djokovic. Djokovic is aware of it, Alcaraz is aware of it, and Djokovic is aware of Alcaraz is aware of it. There’s a change in dynamics that may be felt, together with by way of physique language. The necessary factor for Sinner and Alcaraz is what they discovered from the primary occasions they performed towards Novak. What younger gamers are inclined to face an important champion is that when issues go flawed, they have an inclination to drive issues. They don’t take a step again and say, ‘You recognize what, I’m in higher form than him, I can play him longer on some extent, So I don’t need to drive it and do an excessive amount of.” That’s what occurred within the first video games. That’s why Sinner gained in Australia and Alcaraz gained final 12 months at Wimbledon.”
Moreover not having gained a title but in 2024, Nole has not crushed any High 10 this 12 months. Talking with the Serbian journalists, the 24-time Grand Slam champion opened up on the change of generations: “Many should not even happy that I’m there, in all probability, so they’re searching for a brand new chief, however it’s an integral a part of my profession and the ecosystem wherein I work, perform, and reside. Everybody has the suitable to precise their opinion. The larger the stage, the additional will probably be heard. If we speak concerning the outcomes of Alcaraz, he deserves to be a part of the dialogue concerning the change of generations as a result of he deserves it – 4 Slams, he was No 1. Sinner additionally, particularly this 12 months, however not a lot others – the outcomes have to be confirmed. And the individuals who weren’t even near the titles and the Centre Courtroom, and they’re speaking about one thing, that… Gone with the wind.”
No titles in 2024
Regardless of not successful the title, Novak did an important job reaching the Wimbledon ultimate a month after his knee surgical procedure. Within the newest version of his podcast, ATP legend Andy Roddick paid tribute to the Serbian ace: “It’s absurd that Novak was in a position to make the finals of this occasion. Surgical procedure, no health, not a variety of tennis, no matches. Finals at Wimbledon. Gave your self a have a look at the basket. Props to him. Novak had no reps, no health, all he was making an attempt to do was get wholesome sufficient to play his first spherical after which after that, wholesome sufficient to play second spherical, so on and so forth.
My intestine, based mostly on his technique coming ahead, going line early was that he did not have confidence making these fast changes and Carlos uncovered him. He went large when he needed to, hit these dropshots when he needed to, took second serves early, [he] didn’t need Novak to get settled and when Novak had a shot as a result of he was unsettled, [he] possibly pulled the set off slightly bit too early.”