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On Friday, Novak Djokovic received the highest gossip in 15 years at the ATP tournament in Vienna, but the frustration was limited. Tournament director Herwig Straka was particularly annoyed with his statements at the press conference.
Against the lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego Novak Djokovic doesn’t have the slightest chance in his quarter-finals in Vienna. The season dominator can only win three games, it is the Serbs’ biggest defeat in 15 years.
Nevertheless, the disappointment is limited. “I’m getting along well with the result and looking ahead,” said Djokovic after the press conference. Finally he achieved his goal. «I came here to secure my place at the top of the world rankings at the end of the year, and I did that. I’ve achieved what I came here for. “
“You don’t actually think that way”
These are statements that do not go down well with everyone. In particular, the Viennese tournament director Herwig Straka pissed off the words of the world number 1. “I find such statements dispensable, even if you would think so, you don’t say that in any press conference,” says Straka of the “APA”. In addition, according to his personal calculation, there are still scenarios that would push Djokovic from the throne in the ranking. “But no matter how you twist and turn it, you actually don’t think so.”
At the same time, such tactical calculations cannot be prevented in times of Corona – especially due to the adjusted ranking regulations. Accordingly, if you participate twice in the same tournament (2019 and 2020), only the better result counts. «You have to live with that. Corona is a special time. I’m not complaining about it, ”emphasizes Straka. “We are very happy that we are taking place.”
Instead of Djokovic or local hero Thiem, who also failed in the quarter-finals in the Austrian capital, Andrej Rublev crowns himself the tournament winner on Sunday. The Russian defeated Djokovic-Schreck Sonego in two sets in the final. It is already the fifth tournament victory this year for the 23-year-old.
