Novak Djokovic’s sensational loss to Jiri Vesely at the Monte-Carlo Masters has proven that even the greatest players are not exempt from failure.
Facing the Czech world No.55 in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters, the defending champion succumbed in three sets to hand Vesely the biggest win of his life. The defeat was Djokovic’s worst loss since his defeat to world No.73 Xavier Malisse at the 2010 Aegon Championships. The unexpected loss has sparked questions about the world No.1’s current state of play at the start of the clay court season. Is his spectacular run coming to an end? Is he injured? Or was he just experiencing a tough day at the office?
Out of the three possible scenarios, the last seems the most likely. The world sometimes portrays the Serbian as super-human, however, he is far from that. This year the 28-year-old has already claimed one Grand Slam title, two Masters titles and an ATP 250 crown. His 2016 CV is certainly one that most players on the ATP Tour would kill for, but it was also a sign that a lull in his form was certain to occur.
“It’s been a tough four or five months,” Djokovic said.
Speaking about his performance leading up to this week, the world No.1 candidly admitted that he wasn’t at the top of his game.
“The practice week went well in terms of feeling the ball. But I didn’t feel that freshness the entire time. Working hard obviously trying to do my best on a daily basis,” the world No.1 said.
“Eventually this was going to happen. Everything happens for a reason. I’m going to get some more time off now, which I look forward to. I’m going to need some rest, physical and mental, as well”.
The current state of Djokovic’s mental and Physical wellbeing doesn’t take anything away from the outstanding win by Vesely. It isn’t very often that a player wins 16/23 points at the net and fire 21 winners past the world No.1. The performance of the Czech was praised by Djokovic.
“He played very solid. He was serving very big. He was playing tactically good and aggressive,” Djokovic said.
“When he was a break up in the third set, he was playing bravely. He was coming in, (hitting) drop shots, big serves. He was going for it. He deserved to have it.”
Djokovic’s next tournament will be the Madrid Masters in the first week of May. Until then, the world will not know where Djokovic currently is with his game. If he suffers another shock loss, then it is right to start raising doubts about him. For the time being, the world will just have to accept that Djokovic is just as human as everybody else.
Novak Djokovic’s 2016 performance
ATP Doha Open – Champion
Australian Open – Champion
Dubai Tennis Championships – Quarter-finalist (retired during his match against Feliciano Lopez due to eye problems)
David Cup Vs Kazakhstan – Two singles wins (against Mikhail Kukushkin and Aleksandr Nedovyesov) and a doubles loss.
BNP Paribas Masters (Indian Wells) – Champion
Miami Masters – Champion
Monte-Carlo Masters – Round 2
current win-loss = 28-2.
