Many followers and professionals imagine that Novak Djokovic won’t ever win a Grand Slam event once more. The Serbian champion has struggled loads in current months and has not but lifted a trophy in 2024, struggling a number of surprising defeats in opposition to opponents a lot inferior to him.
The previous world no 1 suffered a knee harm in the course of the 2024 French Open and needed to function final month, however managed to make it to the Wimbledon Championships in good situation. After struggling within the first rounds, the 37-year-old from Belgrade clearly defeated Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti to achieve his tenth remaining at Church Highway.
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Within the remaining, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was annihilated by an ideal Carlos Alcaraz and needed to postpone the appointment along with his eighth title in London. Nole is much from the extent of Alcaraz and Sinner proper now, however isn’t going to surrender and hopes to take revenge within the second half of the season.
Novak’s foremost objectives are the Paris Olympics and the US Open, the place he received the title final yr, beating the Russian Daniil Medvedev within the remaining. Djokovic has by no means hidden his dream of profitable the gold medal for his nation, a purpose he has at all times missed in his superb profession.
Nole doesn’t have a coach
Due to the poor outcomes obtained within the first a part of this yr, Novak Djokovic fired his coach Goran Ivanisevic and his health coach Marco Panichi. The Serbian doesn’t have a coach in the meanwhile and specialists are questioning if this issue made the distinction within the Wimbledon remaining in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz. The previous world no 1 adopted a suicidal tactic in opposition to the Spaniard, attempting to play in pace in opposition to an opponent a lot youthful than him and happening to the web with out a lot sense.
In the course of the newest version of his podcast, former ATP ace Andy Roddick opened up on Nole Djokovic’s efficiency in opposition to Carlitos in London: “Novak for his total profession has been the grasp of type of extending factors, enjoying inside himself, forcing you to assault from robust positions, and at this time I felt like whether or not it was the serve and volley, whether or not it was going line very early, not sticking Carlos into that backhand to backhand rally, it appeared like Novak was in a rush to get out of that.
I don’t totally perceive, perhaps his learn on the primary couple of factors getting bullied, clearly the knee problem, he should know one thing that we don’t. I used to be shocked how rapidly he went to that all-out aggressive play. I didn’t thoughts the approaching in, I didn’t thoughts the approaching line however type of taking random pictures line very, very early in rallies in a really aggressive nature, not wanting to change the path of a rally.”
Toni Nadal – Rafa’s uncle and former coach – additionally spoke about Djokovic: “In my view, the one choice the Serbian had was to attempt to decelerate the sport. To hope that he was fully proper and to belief that Carlos was not having his greatest day. Attempting to beat the participant from Murcia by pace is virtually unimaginable these days. Maybe solely Jannik Sinner can play the Spaniard on equal phrases. And, the truth is, this Sunday’s remaining confirms that the actual rivalry within the subsequent tournaments and, most likely, within the subsequent few years will probably be between these two: the Italian and our nice Spanish champion.”
Will Djokovic win once more?
In the course of the press convention after the 2024 Wimbledon remaining, Nole paid tribute to Alcaraz: “He was undoubtedly very impressed at this time. Clearly, not the consequence that I needed and particularly within the first couple of units, the extent of tennis was less than par from my facet however credit score to Carlos for actually enjoying some wonderful tennis, full tennis from the again of the court docket, serve, I imply he had all of it at this time. I attempted to push him to avoid wasting the three match factors and prolonged the match a little bit bit however it wasn’t meant to be actually. He was a fully deserved winner at this time.”
Nole had received three Grand Slam titles final yr, solely shedding the Wimbledon remaining to Alcaraz after a wonderful battle. After the ATP Finals in Turin, the previous world no 1 was defeated by Jannik Sinner within the Davis Cup Finals and by no means totally recovered. The Serbian veteran didn’t even shine on the Australian Open 2024, his favourite event, giving the sensation of being removed from high kind. The Paris Olympics might flip his season, however Novak won’t begin favourite in opposition to opponents equivalent to Alcaraz and Sinner on crimson clay.
