“One special human being,” Mats Wilander praises Novak Djokovic’s desire to go toe-to-toe with the younger generation
At 37, the legendary Novak Djokovic is still going strong and has shown absolutely no signs of stopping soon.
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Novak Djokovic and Mats Wilander (via ATP/CLAY)
Novak Djokovic has continued to perform at the highest level despite being 37. This season he has been to two finals and also won the singles gold medal at the Olympics. Tennis legend Mats Wilander was full of praise for the Serbian’s desire to go toe-to-toe with the younger generation.
Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slams last year. This season, he failed to achieve the heights of last season but showed his fighting spirit. He reached the semifinals of the Australian Open before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. In his third tournament of the year, he got to the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Despite just returning from injury at Wimbledon, he showed signs of a champion and got to the final. He failed to lift the title losing to Carlos Alcaraz. He earned his revenge against Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics to win his first gold medal at the Olympics. He also became the oldest player to claim the medal.
After a disappointing US Open outing, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is back to the tour. He will be competing at the Shanghai Masters against the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner. Mats Wilander has hailed the 37-year-old fighting spirit and desire to play at the highest level despite his age.
Novak Djokovic is one special human being. It’s impressive that, physically, he wants to put in the effort. Practising when you are his age and when you have won as much as him, it’s an absolute pleasure. He’s playing with the best players in the world because they want to practise with him. They don’t care if they’re going to play a match three days later.
Mats Wilander said via Eurosport
Djokovic is returning to the Shanghai Masters after being away for five years. He last won the title in 2018 but failed to defend it in 2019, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
Novak Djokovic excited to return to the Shanghai Masters where he has “had plenty of success” after five years away
Novak Djokovic will open his Shanghai Masters campaign against American Alex Michelsen after earning a first-round bye. The Serbian boasts of a fantastic 34-5 record at the tournament and is hoping to win his first tour-level title of the year.
He admitted after arriving in Shanghai that he was excited about participating in the tournament. The 37-year-old had revealed in July at Wimbledon that he was going to compete in the event.
I’ve had plenty of success here and in Beijing, won a lot of titles. Hopefully that previous experience and the memories that I have can help me do well this year as well.
Novak Djokovic said via ATP
Djokovic is the record winner of the Shanghai Masters, winning the title five times. He first won in 2012, successfully defended it the following year, before winning it in 2015, and finally in 2018.
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Victor Okechukwu
(711 Articles Published)