Novak Djokovic praises sports science as he continues to be a present figure on the ATP tour at the age of 38.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is into the second week at the US Open after a four set win over Cameron Norrie.
Things were looking bleak when Djokovic suffered a back injury during the contest as he lost the second set and went an early break down in the third set.
However, Djokovic turned things around to secure a seventh consecutive victory over the Brit in the head-to-head series.
Speaking after the match Djokovic detailed his back injury and credited Norrie’s level of play, “I was 5-3 up, I think it was 30-Love, and it was quite an exciting point, and I was at the net and I was kind of moving in the right direction, and I caught the ball. Just made a quick move and reaction, and I felt the left side of my back,” Djokovic stated in his press conference.
“I finished that game, and I just felt like, you know, I needed treatment. Again, you know, I told Cameron at the net, like, I don’t want to — you know, I don’t know if he thinks that I was doing that on purpose to bother him or not, because it’s absolutely not, was not my intention.
“But I felt like I needed that treatment, and I felt better after that. You know, when the meds kicked in, as well. I don’t know when it gets cold tomorrow, I’ll see what the reality is. It was just there for a few games, and after that it was fine.
“Playing. Playing was good. I mean, particularly third and fourth kind of started swinging through the ball a bit more. And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with Norrie’s level. I think he was playing really aggressive. I was not used to playing him, you know, him playing so close to the line and just really taking the ball early particularly on the forehand side. You know, credit to him for fighting and playing some really good level, particularly in the second set and beginning of the third.
“But I guess when it mattered, I came up with some really good points, good shots, good serves. Yeah, serving performance definitely the best so far. Yeah, these kind of matches and performances give me, always give me hope that I can go far, challenge the best players in the world.
“In terms of how I’m feeling, it really goes up and down, to be honest. Yeah, it’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100% always like I have for 20-plus years. But yeah, I guess the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that every match there’s something that might happen as it has been the case this year pretty much every slam.”
Djokovic will hope he can maintain the winning feeling as he chases a record-shattering 25th Grand Slam title in New York.
The Serb has managed to maintain a long and fairly healthy career with there being no signs of slowing down despite being 38 years old.
In fact, Djokovic has gone on record to say that he is targeting the next Olympic games in Los Angeles in 2028.
The secret to Djokovic’s longevity is medical innovation as he explained in his latest press conference, “Look, if anybody has been very open and curious about trying new things out or, like, getting whatever sports science, medical sports science, claims that it’s good out there, whether it’s machines, whether it’s different treatment, methods or whatever it is, I’m the first one to try it out, because I really, I not only want to be able to extend my career and perform well at this stage for as long as I can, but also, I love the wellness and longevity,” Djokovic philosophically explained.
“I just am very attracted by that, like it’s one of my biggest passions in life. I always love to see not only how sick can we be but how healthy can we be? Prevention, I work a lot on that. But I don’t think there is much more that I could do than what I’m doing now, to be honest.
“If the body doesn’t listen to me when I go deep in the Grand Slam tournaments, as it was kind of the case last few slams, then that’s a hard one to swallow for me, because I know the amount of hours I’m putting in daily to care for my body, but at the same time, you know, biological age is not something that I guess you can reverse, and it is what it is.
“The wear and tear on the body all these years is taking a toll, and I’m aware of it, but I’m resisting it. You know, I’m trying to do my best to still be out there competing with the young guys in the highest level.”
Djokovic will continue to raise his own standards when he faces Jan-Lennard Struff in the fourth round on Sunday.
