‘Our champ is getting ready!’ Twitter thrilled as Novak Djokovic grinds it out on the Clay courts in Belgrade

‘Our champ is getting ready!’ Twitter thrilled as Novak Djokovic grinds it out on the Clay courts in Belgrade

Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has his preparations in full swing for the second tournament of the season as he looks for a full Clay season having missed out on hardcourt action at the start of the 2022 season due to his decision to remain unvaccinated. With absence in Australia and USA over vaccination, Novak has played only the 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships so far.

However, with a global decline in the cases of Covid-19, Novak has the green light to play in the majority of the Clay events that will be held across Europe in the upcoming two months where the rules are comparatively relaxed and will allow Novak to play. The Serbian is set to return on Tour at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters which begin on 10th April in Monaco.

With the 2021 French Open finals his last Clay match and only 3 matches so far this season, Novak has started early in his preparations for the Masters tournament that is less than a fortnight away. The 20-time Grand Slam champion hit the clay courts at the Novak Tennis Center in Belgrade where he exchanged rallies and hit shots on balls fed by Boris Bosnjakovic, Head Coach at the Center.

Twitter was quick to acknowledge the fact that Djokovic has started practicing on clay and is gearing up for the clay season.

Novak Djokovic’s Clay Calendar for the 2022 season

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

Djokovic will begin his season at the Monte-Carlo Masters and will next play at the 2022 Serbian Open in Belgrade at the Novak Tennis Center, snubbing the 2022 Barcelona Open that is scheduled during the same dates as the Serbian Open. Novak is expected to skip the final week events of April and then proceed to Spain.

The 2022 Madrid Masters, set to begin on 1st May will be Novak’s third tournament of the Clay season but it is dependent on the vaccination policy of Spain at that point of time with Tournament Director Feliciano Lopez already indicating that he can’t make any commitments regarding the participation of Novak but will be ready to welcome him if the State policies are in order.

Post the week in Madrid, Novak is then expected to play at the 2022 Rome Masters which looks to be his final Clay tournament of the season before the 2022 French Open as the Grand Slam begins a week after the Rome Masters end. Novak is the defending champion at the French Open this year and is on the look for his 21st career Slam and his 3rd win at the Roland Garros.

Also Read: “Novak Djokovic is favourite in Paris” Mats Wilander explains why he believes the Serbian can beat Rafael Nadal for the 2022 French Open title