Novak Djokovic should still be one in every of tennis‘ most formidable opponents, however questions are beginning to swirl across the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s future after his latest semifinal defeat at Roland Garros.
In an interview final 12 months, Djokovic mirrored on the duality of his present mindset, revealing that he nonetheless carries the eagerness of his youthful self, however {that a} extra mature model of him is gaining prominence.
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“However on the identical time, there’s most likely a extra mature Novak, a father and a husband, who’s like, ‘Come on, man. There are different issues in life too,'” he stated.
“I am unmotivated and fewer impressed to journey and play once I wish to be at residence and have a standard life.”
Regardless of these admissions, Djokovic continues to compete and win. Simply days after turning 38 on Might 22, he claimed the a centesimal title of his profession in Geneva.
Nevertheless, the larger is to clinch a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam. His newest try resulted in a tricky semifinal loss to present world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros, a match that raised eyebrows not only for its end result however for what it revealed about Djokovic‘s way of thinking and physique.
Former execs sense a shift in Djokovic’s self-belief
Djokovic‘s kind this season has been uneven, to say the least. After an early exit from Indian Wells, he conceded that one thing had shifted in recent times.
“I have been struggling to play on the desired stage,” he admitted.
However he was defiant simply weeks later after reaching the ultimate of the Miami Open, declaring, “I nonetheless have it in my legs, in my palms, in my arms.”
That combating spirit, nevertheless, did not totally present up in Paris in opposition to Sinner. Watching Djokovic‘s defeat, former Australian professional Luke Saville supplied a somber analysis throughout an interview with Australian Open TV.
“He has 24 Slams, he is received that report sewn up. He is received each occasion there’s, all of the Masters, probably the most Grasp collection, weeks at primary. However I type of felt like watching him in opposition to Sinner, it was the primary time I felt like he type of did not have that perception, for my part,” Saville stated.
“I could possibly be unsuitable, however simply watching him, it was like I felt like there was a realization from him that he cannot compete at this stage with these high two anymore.”
It isn’t the primary time concern has been voiced. Rennae Stubbs bluntly stated that he worries “the motivation is gone.”
In the meantime, Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, drew a telling comparability.
“What’s his aim now that he came upon to win extra Slams than his two large rivals, which have been Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal]?” he stated.
