Tennis legend reveals Novak Djokovic wasn’t really motivated in early 2024

Novak Djokovic’s season ended a lot sooner than standard. The 24-time Grand Slam champion performed his final official match on the Rolex Shanghai Masters early final month, the place he hoped to win the a hundredth title of his legendary profession, however his run was interrupted by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the last.

The Serbian champion then participated within the first version of the ‚Six Kings Slam‘ in Saudi Arabia, during which he was defeated by Sinner within the semifinals after a really spectacular battle. The 37-year-old from Belgrade beat his everlasting rival Rafael Nadal within the last for third and fourth place, during which the 2 nice rivals greeted one another given the upcoming retirement of the Spanish legend (the 22-time Grand Slam champion retired on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga final week).

Towards all odds, the previous world No. 1 has determined to skip the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, two tournaments during which he was alleged to defend the title he received in 2023. Nole has handled himself to a trip in Maldives together with his household and has made an appointment for subsequent 12 months, making certain that tennis continues to be a precedence for him.

Nevertheless, Novak’s 2024 shouldn’t be but formally over. Djokovic would be the final opponent of Juan Martin del Potro’s profession in an exhibition match that can happen in Buenos Aires on Sunday, December 1st.

As everybody is aware of by now, the 24-time Grand Slam champion introduced just a few days in the past that Andy Murray will likely be his coach on the 2025 Australian Open. The Serbian ace made this very shocking selection, which exhibits his willingness to commit himself to tennis once more and win different trophies.

Djokovic surprises once more

In response to many insiders, 2025 would be the final 12 months during which Novak can aspire to win a Grand Slam title. The previous world #1 has to face opponents who’re greater than ten years youthful than him, who shoot very arduous from the baseline and who don’t have any reverential concern.

Throughout a latest interview, doubles legend Nenad Zimonjic mirrored on Djokovic’s selection to rent his former rival Murray as coach: „Novak is a really good man in making selections and his profession is proof of that. So at any time when he wanted one thing actually particular when it comes to coach and assist, he reached out. The outcomes are proof of that and I might say that he is aware of one of the best.”

He additionally added: “That is one thing new for Andy. All of the expertise that he had with the completely different coaches up to now and him being a participant going by means of related conditions on his personal, it could possibly undoubtedly assist.

Andy goes to be one of many group members there, they’re all collectively. They’ve a number of expertise. The entire group along with Novak and to have Andy as an addition, I feel, can work out nicely.”

A really powerful 2024

The present world quantity 7 will play an official match earlier than the Glad Slam, the place he’ll hunt for the eleventh title of his iconic profession. Novak is predicted to decide on the Brisbane ATP 250, a match he solely performed in 2009, the place he’ll attempt to discover his finest form and win just a few matches earlier than the AO.

Regardless of struggling rather a lot for many of 2024, the 37-year-old from Belgrade reached a Grand Slam last at Wimbledon, shedding solely to Carlitos Alcaraz (who had already defeated him in 2023). On the Australian Open, the Serbian ace had been crushed by Sinner within the semifinals, whereas on the French Open he needed to withdraw earlier than the quarter-final match towards Ruud resulting from a knee harm. The US Open was his worst Grand Slam match this 12 months, as his run ended within the first week towards Alexei Popyrin.

In the identical interview, Zimonjic opened up on Nole’s 2024 season: „Earlier this 12 months I discovered him in a scenario the place he was probably not motivated and he was just a little bit misplaced together with his sport, having no good outcomes in comparison with 2023 and struggling after Australia this 12 months.

I managed to repair it fairly rapidly and unexpectedly. Novak didn’t have any expectations earlier than Monte Carlo, however the two weeks that we labored collectively earlier than the match helped him attain the semi-finals. These new issues we labored on throughout this era additionally helped him win gold on the Paris Olympics which was his greatest aim.”

His wonderful victory on the Paris Olympics was one of the vital thrilling moments of the whole 12 months. The entire world paid tribute to the Serbian legend, who burst into tears and admitted how necessary it was to win that medal for his nation.