Djokovic says he lacks confidence
PARIS — Despite all of Novak Djokovic’s success over the years — the 12 major championships, the career Grand Slam, the time ranked No. 1 — he finds himself searching for self-confidence these days.
That’s what an elbow injury and forced absence from the ATP Tour can do to a player.
Djokovic was reflective and revealing Wednesday after moving into the third round at the French Open by virtue of a self-described up-and-down performance in a 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-4 victory over 155th-ranked Jaume Antoni Munar Clar of Spain. Both of Djokovic’s matches have been against qualifiers; neither win was particularly impressive.
“At the moment, I’m not playing at the level I wish to, but at the same time, I understand that it is the process that obviously takes time,” said Djokovic, whose seeding of No. 20 is his lowest at a Slam in 12 years. “And I’m trying to not give up . ...
“At times, I do lose maybe a comfort level on the court and confidence, and that’s something that I’m still building gradually, obviously. The more matches I play, the better it is. The more I win, of course, the better it is. Hopefully, that can keep going.”
At least he prevailed in straight sets, saving energy for whatever might come next at Roland Garros. Other leading men were forced to work a lot harder in matches they would have been expected to dominate: second-seeded Alexander Zverev, No. 4 Grigor Dimitrov and No. 19 Kei Nishikori all faced two-sets-to-one deficits, and all emerged to win.
Zverev was down by a set and a break early — and down a racket he’d obliterated by then, too — before collecting himself and coming back to beat 60thranked Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Dimitrov was two points from defeat against 21-year-old American Jared Donaldson but won 6-7 (2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in a marathon that lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes and featured a couple of underhand serves by Donaldson, who was cramping. Nishikori got past Benoit Paire
of France 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Among the women, No. 1 Simona Halep shook off a slow start in a postponed first-round match to defeat Alison Riske of the U.S. 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Secondround winners included reigning major champions Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens, along with No. 4 Elina Svitolina, No. 8 Petra Kvitova and No. 13 Madison Keys.