‘Busy’ Novak Djokovic makes honest admission about whether he spends time watching matches
Novak Djokovic is in Monte Carlo to bid for his 100th ATP title after failing to do so in the Miami Open final.
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Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Wolfy)
Novak Djokovic is in Monte-Carlo for the third Masters 1000 of the season. He will kick start his campaign on Wednesday (April 9) against Alejandro Tabilo, who knocked out 2014 Monte-Carlo Masters champion Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic has so far played over 1,300 tennis matches and is just behind Roger Federer, who retired at the 2024 Laver Cup after playing 1,526 matches. Despite being one of the most decorated players, Djokovic is not one of those who is obsessed with tennis matches.
In his free time, he would rather do something else, as different activities keep him quite busy. Ahead of starting his campaign, Djokovic didn’t give a straight answer when asked whether during his free time he watches tennis matches.
Yes. To be honest, I’m very busy with various things, like family, so I would say I mostly watch highlights, unless there’s a really important match, an interesting match, or if a Serbian player is playing. In that case, I maybe watch a little more than highlights.
Novak Djokovic said (via Monte Carlo Masters’ YouTube channel)
Djokovic doesn’t have much free time on his hands this season. He had skipped several tournaments last year to focus more on Grand Slam events. But it didn’t help him in securing his 25th Major and Djokovic chose to play more this season and so far, he has competed in five tournaments, including the Miami Open, which he played for the first time since 2019.
Bernard Tomic calls Novak Djokovic the greatest of all time
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have won a combined 66 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic has bagged 24 Grand Slam titles, while Federer and Nadal have claimed 20 and 22, respectively. The debate about who is the GOAT (greatest of all time) between them won’t stop until other players achieve more than them in the future.
For Bernard Tomic, the answer was simple. For him, the GOAT is Djokovic against whom he played six matches (Tomic gave a walkover to the Serb once) between 2011 and 2019, losing all in straight sets (except the 2011 Wimbledon quarterfinal).
Novak in his prime, no one could match him for sure. When he was playing well, he was chopping [Roger] Federer 6-2, 6-2, Rafa, 6-2, 6-1, he was that good man. You can’t compete; he’s the greatest of all time; there will be no one like him for sure. I played five times, the most out of them all, I lost five times.
Bernard Tomic said on the Changeover podcast
The former World No.17 has met Federer four times on the court and lost all the matches. Against the Spaniard too, he could never secure a win in the three matches he played.
Novak Djokovic is chasing his third title at the Monte Carlo Masters
Djokovic has claimed 40 Masters titles, winning the tournaments he played at least thrice except for the Monte Carlo Masters, where he has clinched the title only twice. He ended Rafael Nadal’s winning streak by denying him his ninth consecutive title in The Principality back in 2013.
He last lifted the title in 2015. Since that final, he was never successful in progressing to the summit clash of this tournament. If he is successful in taking home the title, Djokovic will become the third player in the history of Men’s tennis to reach the 100-title mark following Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.
Djokovic met his opening-round opponent Alejandro Tabilo once in the round of 32 of the 2024 Italian Open, which the former lost in straight sets. He is projected to meet defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals and World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
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