Tennis
Crowned for the fourteenth time at Roland-Garros, Rafael Nadal did not have an easy path to the final victory, he who faced Novak Djokovic remarkably in the quarterfinals. For the Serbian team, the outcome of the match is still difficult to approve, according to Goran Ivanisevic, coach of the future former number 1 in the world.
He did it. Despite a worrying physical condition and growing rumors about his retirement, Rafael Nadal managed to win a 14th. Roland Garros on Parisian mud. The Spaniard did not tremble against casper Ruud (6-3, 6-3, 6-0) Sunday, logically winning in a unilateral match, but before, Rafael Christmas showed more difficulty against Felix Auger Aliassime (3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3), Novak Djokovic (6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 [4]) then alexandre Zverev, forced to retire while the German managed to face the master of the square (7-6, 6-6). The latter may have great regrets, as does Novak Djokovic, far from his best level this evening of May 31 at the Philippe-Chatrier track. In the Serbian’s entourage, this defeat is still difficult to overcome according to his coach.
“It was as if Novak lacked energy and as if he didn’t believe enough he could win.”
In the observations made in Tennis Majors, goran Ivanisevic he does not hide his bitterness when he thinks of his protégé’s career. ” I have to be brutally honest to begin with: I’m in a fall and I can’t sleep, recognizes the coach Novak Djokovic. I can’t say I’m disappointed, but I’m sad. It was not a perfect match for either side. Rafa didn’t make a spectacular play, but it was body language that decided, from the first to the last point: Rafa’s body language and Novak’s body language. I warned him, I even told you (the journalists) that the start of the match could be decisive, but again, a bad start … And then, after the turn of the second set, it is incomprehensible how he played the third set. . It was as if he lacked energy and as if he did not believe enough that he could win. You can’t afford this against Rafa because it’s his tournament. »The attitude on the track of Novak Djokovic in fact it surprised him, who sometimes seemed to have his head elsewhere, allowing it Rafael Christmas believing in their possibilities to the end, an element still inexplicable for Ivanisevic : ” Everyone noticed. I don’t know, we haven’t talked yet. That’s why this game bothers me so much that I can’t sleep. What would have happened if he had won the fourth set, no one knows, but he’s just a good old “what if”. He had two seven-pointers: the first was an easy unforced setback, the second came close to the net with the ball in the middle of the court, and Rafa passed it. Maybe it would have been different, maybe not, but I still don’t understand body language and lack of energy. Novak had too many ups and downs, while Rafa was consistent and absolutely deserved to win this match.»
“It’s completely absurd to say that Novak preferred to play at night”
Otherwise, goran Ivanisevic has wanted to remember the particular conditions in which this clash of titans of 4h12 took place, disputed in night session. A decision that had caused controversy, however placing Novak Djokovic as the big favorite of the match in the eyes of the specialists for the higher humidity, altering the game of Christmas. ” It is utterly absurd to say that Novak preferred to play the night gamechallenge Ivanisevic in his interview with Tennis Majors. If we go back two years, Nadal won Roland-Garros in October when the temperature was ten degrees. People used to say that Novak was the favorite in the evening, but there was no basis for it, I even think that the night game is good for Rafa. Because Novak has to focus on himself. We were like “oh, Rafa’s ball won’t bounce (high),” but Novak’s ball wasn’t as effective either. Novak likes it when it’s hotter, because he can get more points with his serve and because his ball moves faster. continues the coach of Djokovic. Rafa used what Novak gave him: he is the king and the owner of this court, and he does not let you lose, you pay him immediately. If we look at the semifinals, Zverev played the whole game better before the injury, but he was losing. As I say, Rafa’s energy was amazing and it’s like Novak doesn’t have enough confidence.»
Tennis: After Roland-Garros, the Djokovic clan announces the color for Wimbledon! https://t.co/43Gbut0C6s pic.twitter.com/35AeOy7GIM
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“The only thing I don’t like and that’s really unfair is that the public booed Djokovic.”
Looking for a 21st Grand Slam title to match Rafael Christmaswho is now 22 years old Novak Djokovic he may have broken under pressure while the Spaniard was playing at home in front of a Parisian audience. A factor of which goran Ivanisevic. “Before the game, I said that 80% of the public would support Christmas, out of respect, but in reality it was 99.9% of the pro-Rafa public. The only thing I don’t like and that is really unfair is that the audience booed Djokovic when he entered the track. That is, he is number 1 in the world (for another week, editor’s note) and has won 20 Grand Slam titles. There is no reason to do such a thing. Like it or not, you have to respect it. After cheering on Rafa, of course we knew it would be like that adds the Croatian, though he refuses to use this element as an excuse to justify defeat. I don’t know if Novak was ashamed or not: he learned to deal with it and that can’t be an excuse, in my opinion. ” From now on, Novak Djokovic is expected at Wimbledon to try to keep his title, a tournament he will enter as a favorite goran Ivanisevic, who does not hesitate to press the Serb. “ Of course, you can win Wimbledon, and you really have no choice, to be honest. He is the top favorite at Wimbledon, just as Rafa was at Paris. Now Novak needs to rest well and prepare physically and mentally for Wimbledon. I’m sure he can and I think he will win Wimbledon, I have a good feeling. Now you have to focus on the grass.“Waiting, Novak Djokovic must remain discreet and not appear in court before June 27, the start date of Wimbledon. “We’ll see, but the most important thing for him is to recover mentally. As I’ve said in the past, Novak is a genius with a different mindset than most of us. Although it takes less time than most people to go back and find out, you still have to do it. He has overcome hardships in the past and I am absolutely sure he will be ready for Wimbledon.. The appointment is made.