Djokovic’s season has not been satisfactory so far
Novak Djokovic’s season has not been satisfactory so far. The Serbian veteran has not yet won a title this year and has suffered several unexpected defeats against opponents far below him.
Former World Number 1 was injured during the French Open and had to operate on his knee three weeks before the Wimbledon Championships. His participation in the third Slam of the season was uncertain, but the Serbian recovered in record time and showed up in London with many uncertainties.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion benefited from a favorable draw and reached the second week, where he easily defeated the Danish Holger Rune and the Italian Lorenzo Musetti (Nole did not have to play the quarterfinals due to the retirement of Alex de Minaur). In the final Novak hoped to take revenge against Carlos Alcaraz, who had mocked him at the fifth set in the final last year. The Spaniard dominated the 2024 final by showing a shocking superiority from start to finish. Djokovic never really made it into the match and had to postpone the appointment with his eighth title at the Championships. The former world number 1 will try to redeem himself at the Paris Olympics, where he hopes to finally win the gold medal for his country. The Olympic tournament was never lucky for Nole, who for several reasons has always disappointed expectations.
Nole is in trouble
The clear defeat suffered in the final of Wimbledon against Carlos Alcaraz, posed several questions about the future of Novak Djokovic and his chances of winning another Major. During a recent interview with ‘Star Sports’, Vijay Amritraj reflected on Djokovic’s current status: “When I played against Borg, Connors, McEnroe, the best of my generation, I thought that on my good day, no one could beat me. I was going to beat them. I knew it, they knew it, and I knew they knew it. Now, in their minds, Alcaraz and Sinner also know how to win against Djokovic. Djokovic knows it, Alcaraz knows it, and Djokovic knows Alcaraz knows it. There is a change in dynamics that can be felt, including in terms of body language. The important thing for Sinner and Alcaraz is what they learned from the first times they played against Novak. What young players tend to face a great champion is that when things go wrong, they tend to force things. They don’t take a step back and say, ‘You know what, I’m in better shape than him, I can play him longer on a point, So I don’t have to force it and do too much.” That’s what happened in the first games. That’s why Sinner won in Australia and Alcaraz won last year at Wimbledon.”
Besides not having won a title yet in 2024, Nole has not beaten any Top 10 this year. Speaking with the Serbian journalists, the 24-time Grand Slam champion opened up on the change of generations: “Many are not even satisfied that I am there, probably, so they are looking for a new leader, but it is an integral part of my career and the ecosystem in which I work, function, and live. Everyone has the right to express their opinion. The bigger the stage, the further it will be heard. If we talk about the results of Alcaraz, he deserves to be part of the discussion about the change of generations because he deserves it – four Slams, he was No 1. Sinner also, especially this year, but not so much others – the results need to be proven. And the people who were not even close to the titles and the Centre Court, and they are talking about something, that… Gone with the wind.”
No titles in 2024
Despite not winning the title, Novak did a great job reaching the Wimbledon final a month after his knee surgery. In the latest edition of his podcast, ATP legend Andy Roddick paid tribute to the Serbian ace: “It is absurd that Novak was able to make the finals of this event. Surgery, no fitness, not a lot of tennis, no matches. Finals at Wimbledon. Gave yourself a look at the basket. Props to him. Novak had no reps, no fitness, all he was trying to do was get healthy enough to play his first round and then after that, healthy enough to play second round, so on and so forth.
My gut, based on his strategy coming forward, going line early was that he didn’t have confidence making those quick adjustments and Carlos exposed him. He went big when he had to, hit those dropshots when he had to, took second serves early, [he] did not want Novak to get settled and when Novak had a shot because he was unsettled, [he] maybe pulled the trigger a little bit too early.”
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