Novak Djokovic offers surprising excuse as Serb opens up on US Open woes
Novak Djokovic suffered a shock early exit from the US Open.
Novak Djokovic has given a surprising excuse as to why he suffered a shock third-round defeat at the US Open. The defending champion went down to Alexei Popyrin, failing to reach the second week.
It was his earliest Grand Slam exit in more than seven years. Now back in action at the Davis Cup, Djokovic explained why he struggled in Flushing Meadows.
It’s been a mixed season for the world No. 4. Djokovic’s only title so far is an Olympic gold medal - the one achievement that always evaded him. But he has also undergone knee surgery and suffered several shock losses to lower-ranked players.
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At the beginning of August, the 37-year-old beat Carlos Alcaraz to become the Olympic champion in a rematch of the Wimbledon final that he lost three weeks earlier. Djokovic knew it was likely his last shot at a gold medal and performed under pressure.
But the 24-time Grand Slam champion has now confessed that he felt a bigger weight on his shoulders at the US Open, despite what was at stake during the Paris 2024 Games. “I always feel, so to say, ’general’ pressure that I always have to win,” Djokovic told RTS.
“From others, but from myself as well since I am a perfectionist and I sacrifice a lot in order to play my best when it matters the most.
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“The Olympics were my main goal. I was very worried after the knee injury at Roland Garros, but when I managed to play the finals at Wimbledon, I was relieved since I knew I would be ready for the Olympics.”
But the 37-year-old also feels extra pressures - something that didn’t arise during the Olympics. He continued: “On the other hand, there is what I like to call ’additional’ pressure, which depends on the form.
“Ahead of the finals in Paris, I haven’t lost a set, I’ve beaten [Rafael] Nadal at his home - although he was not at his best, but still, beating him in Paris is something huge. I felt the energy and support from home as well, so that ’additional pressure’ was lower than usual.”
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But it was a different story at the US Open, where Djokovic admitted he didn’t feel like himself. “In New York, for instance, I felt that it wasn’t me on the court, that I was not well-prepared, so I felt more additional pressure ahead of every match compared to before the finals at the Olympics,” he added.
“Just because of the way I felt. Tennis is an individual sport - if you don’t have a solution on a given day, that’s it, you lose. Over the years, that kept me disciplined”.
But the world No. 4 appears to be back to normal ahead of Serbia’s Davis Cup World Group I playoff tie against Greece. The Serbs are hosting the tie in Belgrade this weekend and Djokovic said: “Being 100 per cent ready is no guarantee of winning anything but, of course, the chances are much higher.”
