Novak Djokovic blames shock Dubai loss on a scarcity of match health
Novak Djokovic admits his shock Dubai Tennis Championships loss was as a result of a scarcity of match health and believes he wants extra matches with a view to return to his finest degree.
20-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic began his Dubai Tennis Championships marketing campaign effectively when he beat Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti earlier than then overcoming Russian Karen Khachanov.
He then confronted Czechian qualifier Jiri Vesely within the quarter-final, who had already impressively overwhelmed each Marin Cilic and Roberto Bautista-Agut. Vesely induced one of many upsets of the 12 months when he beat Djokovic to make him lose his World primary title.
US Open champion Daniil Medvedev needed to both match or higher Djokovic’s consequence to steal the title, which he did when he misplaced within the semi-finals of the Mexican Open to 21-time Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
The Dubai Tennis Championships was Djokovic’s first aggressive look for the reason that Davis Cup in early December after he was deported from Australia simply in the future earlier than the Australian Open.
Furthermore, Djokovic’s involvement at additional competitions can be doubtful after he revealed he intends to stay unvaccinated and is prepared to sacrifice Grand Slams ought to vaccinations be made necessary for entry.
While he has been named on the Indian Wells Masters entry listing, because it stands Djokovic will not be allowed to enter the USA as per Covid-19 restrictions concerning international entry.
Talking after his loss to eventual finalist Vesely, Djokovic mentioned “I’m missing somewhat little bit of the match play. You’ll be able to see that; I’m nonetheless discovering the groove on the courtroom.
“The extra matches I play, the extra snug I get on the courtroom. I want the match play.
“I didn’t have many matches in any respect previous few months. Let’s see.
Djokovic additionally added that he nonetheless feels he has years left in his profession, saying “I don’t have a look at the age actually as a proscribing issue for my profession.
“I nonetheless really feel nice when it comes to my physique and the way in which it’s holding on, the way in which it’s recovering. It’s been serving me effectively, so to say.
“That’s one thing that clearly encourages me to maintain going.”
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