How long Novak Djokovic has to wait for the first title this season? World #1 handed a tough draw at the Serbia Open
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Novak Djokovic
It has been a tough start to the year for World No. 1 Novak Djokovic as he tries to get back in his best shape to defend the Roland Garros title. Djokovic was detained in Australia due to his unvaccinated status and it created a lot of controversies surrounding the issue. Ultimately the 20-time Grand Slam winner did not even get a shot at defending his Australian Open title.
As a result, his rival Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and went ahead in terms of the Grand Slam tally. Now it is an opportunity for the Serb to strike back on clay at the Roland Garros especially with Nadal‘s injury being a major point in the entire scenario. But it won’t be easy for Djokovic aswell as he has only featured in four matches this year, which includes the recent second round defeat against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters. Before featuring in Monaco, the only event that Djokovic played was in Dubai where also he lost to Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals.
His wait for the first title this year is still going on as several experts feel that the Serbian star will need more matches under his belt to get back that rhythm, especially on a tricky surface like clay. The Serb’s coach Goran Ivanisevic also revealed how he was very ill and in no condition ready to play in Monte Carlo. “He wasn’t feeling well before he came here. He was sick. Let’s say he’s not fit one hundred percent to compete,” Ivanisevic said in an interview after Djokovic crashed out of the tournament.
“First of all in this situation. Three weeks ago he was not allowed to play here because of the Covid decision. Then France opened and he was allowed. And it’s difficult mentally. You can play to the semifinals. But you can’t prepare the way you would need to. And then he got sick. And, to be honest, I didn’t expect something spectacular from this tournament,” he added.
Goran Ivanisevic is certain that Djokovic will be ready ahead of the Roland Garros as he points out the time remaining and the tournaments that the World No.1 will play in between to be match ready ahead of the big clash.
A tough draw awaits Novak Djokovic at this year’s Serbia Open
Djokovic will now be in action at home in the Serbia Open and fans will hope that amidst a lot of local support he may end this year’s title drought.
However, it won’t be that easy for the 20-time Grand Slam winner as he has a very tricky draw and will need to be near his best to win the tournament in Belgrade. Djokovic will get a first-round bye and starts his Serbia Open campaign from the second round onwards. In the second round, the World No. 1 will be up against either compatriot Laslo Djere or Hamad Medjedovic. It gets even trickier from the third round if he gets there. Seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic will play the first round against experienced Frenchman Richard Gasquet. While the other first-round clash will see Australia’s John Millman and 2020 French Open champion Dominic Thiem. So Djokovic may have a potential quarterfinal either against the inform Kecmanovic or the returning to tour Dominic Thiem.
If Djokovic manages to get through the first few obstacles, he will set up a potential semifinal clash against third seed Karen Khachanov or recent ATP 250 Morocco winner David Goffin. Serbian star Filip Krajinovic, who is the eighth seed in this event also stands a chance to meet Djokovic in the semifinals. If he progresses to the title clash he will either play Russia’s Aslan Karatsev or Andrey Rublev with Cristian Garin having an outside chance.
So it is a very tough draw for the Serb considering it as an ATP 250 event. With Djokovic’s fitness and health concerns, it opens up the door for others to chip in. So it will be really difficult for him to break the jinx here in Belgrade. But the 20-time Grand Slam winner is a fighter and just like his coach suggested he will be ready for the big stage.
Also Read: “He will be ready,” coach Goran Ivanisevic is optimistic about Novak Djokovic’s return to the Red dirt
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Atrayo Bhattacharya
(193 Articles Published)