Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki has claimed Novak Djokovic is more relaxed in Paris than he was in Tokyo.
It was three years ago in the Japanese capital where Novak Djokovic’s gold medal dreams were destroyed right before his very eyes after losing to Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
The world number two has yet to win Olympic gold and it’s the one title that alludes him so far.
However it’s a very different mindset in Paris as Djokovic is looking to overcome injury and poor form as he has nothing to lose in the French capital.
That is a mindset that Serbian Davis Cup captain and good friend Viktor Troicki has spoken about.
Troicki stated that Djokovic is more relaxed than he was three years ago as he prepares to go all the way, “Physically and mentally, Novak was destroyed [after defeat in Tokyo],” Troicki was quoted by tennisuptodate as saying.
“Physically he couldn’t (do) anymore. Emotionally he got killed after the match. He was really close in Tokyo, you know, making it to the final stages and probably going for the gold, but it didn’t happen in the end.
“I don’t think this time he feels such big pressure like he did in Tokyo. Here it’s different because during all this year, and also last year, he was talking about Olympics, and that the gold medal was his biggest goal.
“He’s a different player here. He’s really motivated and you can see the difference on the court now. I think here in Paris he’s more relaxed, more focused on the things he needs to do.”
Djokovic will continue his bid for gold on Thursday evening against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
