NOVAK: MY YEAR IS NOT PLEASANT
NOVAK DJOKOVIC broadly accepted John McEnroe’s view that he might have got a little “bummed out” by all his Covid-jab controversies – though “challenging” was his own word for it.
In a strangely open press conference after his 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 win against South Korean world No.81 Soon-woo Kwon, below, he admitted his year had been “not very pleasant”.
Just 10 months ago, Djokovic was one match away from winning a calendar Grand Slam and becoming the greatest Slam event winner of all time. Instead, he came into Wimbledon two Grand Slam titles behind Rafa Nadal.
On Centre Court yesterday there was less of his usual swagger, and he slipped and slid to an unconvincing victory.
Wimbledon legend McEnroe felt the row in Australia – where Djokovic was refused entry for choosing not to have a Covid jab – and everything since, upset the usually robotic Serbian.
“That has got to affect you mentally,” said McEnroe. “He is a human being. For me he got out of shape a little because he was bummed out.”
Djokovic laughed coldly when those comments were put to him. “I never use that expression so I don’t know exactly what it means,” he said.
“Yes and no.Yes, I’ve experienced something that I’ve never experienced in my life in Australia.
“So the period of the next several months was challenging emotionally.
“But in terms of my motivation on the court, trying to win more titles and be a contender for more Grand Slams, it hasn’t changed much.
“But the sensation coming back on the court post-Australia, particularly the first few tournaments, was a different feel. Not very pleasant to me.”
Things are unlikely to get better soon – both the USA and Australia, hosts of the next two Grand Slam events, still demand fully up-to-date jabs.
Djokovic said: “I guess that motivates me more to try to make the most out of this tournament.”