After taking a break from the sport following his defeat at the US Open, Novak Djokovic is once again raring to go as he aims to end 2021 on a high note.
The world No.1 hasn’t played a professional match since losing to Daniil Medvedev in the final of the New York major on September 12th. That defeat ended his bid to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slam titles within the same season. Although the encounter was bittersweet for Djokovic who relished in unprecedented support he received from the crowd which he had never received before.
“I’m disappointed that I lost the match, but I feel like I was blessed to experience love from the crowd and support from the stadium that I have never experienced before in my life in New York, and actually not in many places around the world,” he told reporters on Sunday. “That kind of energy that I received from the crowd from the moment I stepped on the court until I stepped out is a win for life, is a win for for this human relationship, so to say.”
Djokovic approaches the closing stages of the season with a win-loss record of 44-6 and four titles to his name. Besides his trio of triumphs at the majors, he also won his first ATP title on home soil in Serbia since 2011. Furthermore, he is 10-3 when taking on top 10 opposition.
The next test for Djokovic will be at this week’s Paris Masters which he has won a record five times with the most recent triumph occurring in 2019. Over the coming weeks he will be bidding to secure his year-end No.1 position for a seventh time. Something which has never been achieved before on the men’s Tour. However, returning to action after almost two months away will not be easy.
“I have had plenty of success in Paris-Bercy over the years, so that gives me enough reason to believe that I can do well, and I can go far in the tournament,” said Djokovic.
“But having said that, the lack of match play could be dangerous, so I have to really make sure that I start off my first match very well with a good intensity and build my form as that match passes on and hopefully get a win and get myself more comfortable on this court and just getting that match play in.”
Eager to get matches under his belt, the 34-year-old will also be on doubles duty in Paris with his first match taking place on Monday. He has teamed up with Filip Krajinović to help sharpen his game, as well as get use to potentially playing together ahead of the Davis Cup Finals later this year.
“There is always something to improve, there is always something to be worked on. So let’s see how emotionally recovered I am and ready for competition at the highest Level,” Djokovic stated.
“The season was very draining for me and demanding in every aspect, but I have had similar situations before where I was just super tired, but somehow managed to find the strength and finish the year and finish the season strong. Hopefully that will be the case again.” He added.
On playing Australian Open
Looking further ahead there question of whether Djokovic will try to defend his title at the Australian Open next year remains unclear. In recent weeks there have been mixed messages issued regarding allowing unvaccinated players to participate in the event. The Victoria Premier, Daniel Andrews, had previously said they will not be allowed. However other figures, including the Australian Prime Minister, say players who are not jabbed will be allowed to do so but they enter a 14-day quarantine.
Djokovic has kept silent on his vaccination status which has fuelled speculation about if he might be potentially prohibited from entering Australia should Andrews’ pledge turn into a reality. The Serbian insists that he will not be making any public comments on the matter until the rules are finalist which is expected to by at some point during November.
“I’m going to decide on whether I go to Australia or not after I see the official statement from Tennis Australia,” Djokovic explains.
“So until that’s out, I won’t be talking about this anymore because I don’t want to be part of the stories about the assumptions and what-ifs.’
“When official condition requirements to travel to Australia and play in Australia are out, then obviously I’ll see what I personally do with that, and also the bigger group of the players because the situation is obviously different in Australia than most parts of the world.”
Djokovic has never missed the Australian Open since making his Grand Slam debut back in 2005.
