Novak Djokovic is about to return to training for a new season. This pre-season promises to be special since he will team up with a new coach, Andy Murray, in a process which has already given him new energy.
The Serbian champion, holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, did not have the best year of his career in 2024, having not won any ATP titles. However, he won the only major title missing from his list of achievements: the gold medal at the Olympic Games.
Originally from Belgrade, he gave a detailed interview to his racket supplier, Headduring which he spoke of a historic match in his career: the final of Wimbledon in 2019 facing Roger Federer.
“I remember it was very late, the sun was very low, so visibility was difficult for both of us. He managed to break me and was serving, I think, at 8-7 in the fifth set. This was the first year that the 12-tie super tie-break was introduced. It was a perfect setting for the tournament and apparently also for me, I don’t know about him, but playing a great tie-break in the final of such a long match… Statistically, Roger was the best player that day. If you analyze the numbers, you realize that he won more points and that all the statistics were in his favor, but I found a way to win in the key moments, by playing the right players shots at the right time, recalled the balcanic.
“I was 40-15 down, and I just tried to push him to play, to deserve the victory. He went to the net, I made a passing shot on the second match point. He was a little tired, I took advantage of this momentum, and the super tie-break was still very close. It was definitely the most stressful match I’ve ever been a part of. Perhaps I would add to this list my 2012 Australian Open victory against Nadal in the final. These two matches are without doubt the best I have taken part in,” added the player with 99 titles.
Novak Djokovic: It was historic number 23, a landmark moment
On Parisian clay, Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam, a particularly special Roland Garros, where he displayed an exceptional level of play, triumphing over Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud.
“It was historic number 23. It was a landmark moment. I had a solid tournament and I would say I played pretty well, especially considering my clay court season was not very successful before Roland Garros. I know that there I play my best tennis on this surface, and that gave me the confidence to repeat the feat. I did it, especially in the last matches against Alcaraz in the semi-finals when he was in great shape. I had a very clear vision of what I had to do and how to approach the match. I think I played excellent tennis, and I also had a very solid match in the final against Casper Ruud. After this last forehand that came out, I collapsed on the court. My children, my wife and my whole family were present, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life,” a conclu Novak Djokovic.
In the world of elite tennis, it is often fascinating to observe how athletes like Novak Djokovic manage to reinvent their game by integrating new coaches. Pairing up with an iconic player like Andy Murray could provide an interesting dynamic and a different approach that he could exploit on tour. The psychological and technical issues of such a change should not be underestimated. It’s a reminder that the sport is constantly evolving and that even the greatest champions must adapt to remain competitive. Experiencing tense moments, like those recounted by Djokovic, is what makes tennis so captivating.
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