Djokovic beats Monfils, hopes for better Wimbledon
When Novak Djokovic walked into Wimbledon a year ago, he possessed all four Grand Slam trophies.
On Tuesday, he’ll return empty-handed.
A third-round defeat to Sam Querrey last year at the All England Club was the stunning start of a prolonged slump, a slump which Djokovic hopes he is finally on the way to ending after winning his second title of the year in Eastbourne on Saturday.
Djokovic won the Eastbourne International beating Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in the final, his first title since Janaury and his third in a year.
“It’s been a while now that I have been trying to find my best game and kind of consistency,” Djokovic said. “It hasn’t been the case for me in the last 12 months to win many big tournaments.
“In order to, in a way, reach the next peak, you need to have a little drop, because, you know, that’s how life kind of circulates around, as waves going up and down.”
His philosophical ponderings have become more familiar than the grit and intensity that saw him win six of the eight major titles available over a two-year period beginning at 2014 Wimbledon.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal appeared to have been pushed to the brink of retirement, and Andy Murray to despair, having so often been Djokovic’s prey in finals.
I have been in the game long enough to know what I need to do. Playing at Wimbledon and playing at any other tournament, as a matter of fact, gives me a lot of joy, and I think that’s the key.” NOVAK DJOKOVIC