Rapid return to court key for Djokovic
TENNIS
ROME: Italian Open champion Novak Djokovic said getting back on court for a tournament so quickly after being disqualified at the US Open for striking a line judge with a ball helped him move on from the incident.
The world No 1 came in for heavy criticism at Flushing Meadows earlier this month and the Serb said he spent several days processing what had happened.
He returned to tournament play in Rome last week and captured his 36th ATP Masters crown in yesterday’s final by beating Argentine Diego Schwartzman 75, 63.
‘‘I did experience mentally some ups and downs in the first four to five days after that happened,’’ Djokovic said.
‘‘Obviously, I was in shock . . . but I moved on.
‘‘Obviously, having a tournament a week after helped a lot because I really wanted to get on the court and get whatever trace of that out of the way.’’
Djokovic, who has won 31 of his 32 matches this year, said he would have to raise his game further to challenge for the title at the French Open, which begins on Sunday.
‘‘I don’t think I played my best tennis to be honest. I don’t want to sound arrogant here. I am very satisfied and pleased to win a title. I know I still have a couple of gears,’’ he added.
‘‘Hopefully, I’ll be able to raise that level for the French Open because that’s going to be necessary if I want to go deep in the tournament.’’
Defending Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal was stunned by Schwartzman in the Rome quarterfinals, but Djokovic expected the Spaniard to be firing on all cylinders in Paris.
‘‘He’s the player who has the highest chance of being in the final . . . if it’s Roland Garros it’s Rafa you bet on,’’ he said.
In the women’s draw, top seed Simona Halep gave her French Open preparations a boost when she claimed the title after second seed Karolina Pliskova retired from the final with an injury when she was down 60, 21.
Victory gave Halep her first title in Rome and her third consecutive title of the year after wins in Dubai — before the Covid19 hiatus — and Prague last month.
Pliskova attempted to continue playing after receiving treatment on her lower back and leg between sets but eventually decided to retire, not willing to take any chances before the French Open which begins on September 27.
‘‘I know that’s not the way how Karolina wanted to finish the tournament and the final,’’ Halep said at the trophy presentation ceremony.
‘‘Good luck in the French Open. Hopefully, we will meet again there in the final.
‘‘Finally, after two finals I could win this title. I love this tournament and I’m really happy that I have this beautiful trophy in my hands now,’’ she added, having lost the final in 2017 and 2018. — Reuters