Novak Djokovic shrugs off talks about his injury ahead of the Rome Masters saying there are “always some things here and there that bother you”

Novak Djokovic gives a candid interview about his age and problems that come with it

Novak Djokovic shrugs off talks about his injury ahead of the Rome Masters saying there are “always some things here and there that bother you”

Novak Djokovic (Image Credit: Tennis TV)

Novak Djokovic has rubbished any injury woes as he is back to play at the Italian Open, his most successful clay event so far. Djokovic has won 6 Italian Open titles and has been a runner-up 5 times. His clay season has been injury prone, as he crashed out early in Monte Carlo Masters. At Banja Luka also he suffered a defeat in the quarter-finals. Ultimately, Djokovic had to sit out of the Madrid Open to recover and ready for the Italian Open.

Recently in an interview World No. 1 (currently, but not for long) said that he is feeling good and is going to give it his all at the Italian Open. The 35-year-old Serb said, “There’s always some things here and there that bother you on this level. It’s normal. Also when you’re not 25 anymore.” Having brushed off his age and the mild discomfort one might feel at this age, Djokovic added that he missed playing at highly competitive levels the past weeks. “But I feel good. I miss competition. I love playing in Rome,” added the 22-time Grand Slam title winner.

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Novak Djokovic will be playing his first match of the Italian Open against young Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Etcheverry has already been appreciated by Djokovic for his funny reels on social media. In the reel, every time Etcheverry wins a match, he compares his ATP points and rank with Djokovic’s.

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Probable tough matches for Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open

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Being the top-seeded player, Novak Djokovic is in the top half of the main draws. If he wins his first round match, he will end up meeting with either Stan Wawrinka or Grigor Dimitrov. Now Stan Wawrinka has done well in most of the first-round matches at various ATP events, but the second round has proved his downfall. The road to championship final will not be an easy one to come by for Novak Djokovic. With all of the top 10 playing at the Rome Open, Jannik Sinner is back in action after a short break in the Madrid Open.

He may encounter Holger Rune even before the semi-final match if things go well for both Djokovic and Rune till quarterfinals. Holger has been in immense form of late and could do some good damage with the World No. 1. In case Djokovic is able to overturn all competition till the semi-final match, he might end up locking horns with Jannik Sinner, provided Sinner does well in his rounds too. This is going to be an exciting tournament for the Serb with the entire young generation coming at him. A true test of fitness and mental strength.

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