Novak Djokovic returns to the fray. The top Grand Slam winner (24) in the history of men’s tennis could not conquer any major in 2024: semi-finalist in Australia (fell with Jannik Sinner), quarter-finalist at Roland Garros (with Casper Ruud), finalist at Wimbledon (Carlos Alcaraz) and third round at the US Open (Alexei Popyrin). But of course, at the same time he achieved something that he had been pursuing for a long time: the gold medal in the Olympic Games, being crowned in the Bois de Boulogne and against Alcaraz.
The 37-year-old Serbian has seen how Roger Federer, first, and Rafael Nadal, recently, retired from the activity. But as the last member of the Big Three who is still on the courts, is not thinking for now about a farewell, but about how to recover ground (he is 7th in the world ranking) and above all about finding a way to beat the new stars in the Grand Slams: Sinner and Alcaraz.
Nole, who at this time arrives in Buenos Aires to participate this Sunday, in Parque Roca, in the farewell meeting of Juan Martín del Potro, was in Doha in recent days. On Thursday, in a formal ceremony, he was appointed as Global Brand Ambassador and Wellness Advisor for the Qatar Airways company. And on Friday, they took a walk around the circuit where the penultimate round of the Formula 1 World Championship takes place. A while in the McLaren pits, a photo with the Ferrari of Spanish Carlos Sainz. Djokovic is passionate about sports and once again enjoyed the world of speed. Then he participated in the mechanics’ warm-up and even played mini-basketball in the pit streets. An all-terrain vehicle.
Of course he also talked about tennis. A week ago, through his social networks, he announced news that shook the tennis environment: the Scot Andy Murray, an old rival and former number 1, will be his new coach. They will start at the next Australian Open, curiously the stage where Nole won four finals against Murray: 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 (he also defeated him in the 2017 Roland Garros final).
“Welcome aboard,” was Djokovic’s message when he announced the news. But what led you to choose the two-time Wimbledon champion (2013 and 2016) and Olympian (2012 and 2016) and also winner of the US Open (2012)? “In recent months I had been thinking about next season and trying to figure out what I need at this stage of my career,” Djokovic told Sky Sports, prior to the rehearsal day in Doha. ”In March I stopped working with my coach, Goran Ivanisevic, with whom I had a lot of success for many years. So I took about six months to think about whether I really needed a coach, and if so, who it could be and his profile, what he was looking for and what he wanted.”
Without naming his own names, Nole acknowledged that he had several names in the pipeline and that with his inner circle they analyzed the pros and cons. “We were considering different names and I realized that the perfect coach for me at this moment would be someone who has gone through the experiences that I am going through, possibly a multiple Grand Slam winner, former number one,” he clarified. ”I was thinking about different people and then the name Andy Murray came up. So, I decided to call him and see how he was doing, what he was up to, what plans he had for his life.”
Djokovic acknowledged that Murray (also 37 years old, born a week before the Serbian) was surprised when he heard the proposal. “He didn’t expect it, it caught him off guard. He had to think about it, but the truth is that we immediately connected with the idea and a few days later he called me to tell me that he accepted the proposal. And we agreed to start at the Australian Open, starting January 12, 2025. I couldn’t be more excited. This collaboration is a surprise for me too, for everyone. But it’s exciting for tennis. He has been one of my great rivals. We are the same age, we have played in all the biggest stadiums in our sport, so I can’t wait to get out on the field and prepare for next season.”
2024 was the first season in which Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam title since 2017. Far from feeling despondent, he wants to fight for glory again and try to regain world No. 1. He knows it won’t be easy with Sinner and Alcaraz on the road. “I will still try to be strong because I feel that my body is responding well to me. I still have motivation to win Grand Slams and make more history. That’s one of the main reasons I asked Andy to work with me: because I still have big plans, so as long as I feel that way, I’ll keep going. I do not have any date in mind or any limit regarding my future, as to say that in such a year I plan to retire. “I will continue forward as long as I feel that I can be one of the candidates for the most important titles in the sport.”
“The nerves are many”
While waiting for Djokovic, Juan Martín Del Potro lives the hours before his farewell with anxiety, melancholy and receiving the affection of the people. The game will be this Sunday, starting at 5 p.m., at the Parque Roca stadium, which looks renovated and has its retractable roof. In an interview with THE NATIONthe 32-year-old from Tandil spoke about the frustrations due to his constant injuries and all the ailments he continues to go through since the knee injury he suffered in a fall in the Shanghai tournament in 2019. But also about what it means to play his last match against a friend and great rival like Nole, with whom they have had memorable battles on the circuit and in the Olympic Games.
In Parque Roca, when asked about what he feels at the moment, Delpo told ESPN: “I already meet people and they give me messages of encouragement, gratitude, and that I enjoy it. Honestly, it’s getting a little difficult to enjoy because the nerves are so many. It’s been a while since I played in front of a lot of people. These are experiences that I was very used to living and I lost the habit. “Looking forward to Sunday and super grateful that Novak has accepted the proposal and that he will accompany me on my last day of tennis.”
Is Djokovic the best in history? Del Potro analyzes it like this: “Obviously the numbers support it. Then there are tastes, there are some who feel more identified with Roger, others with Rafa. But what Novak has done in tennis is unmatched. I don’t know if anyone can repeat it. If you see the dimension of personality that he is, not only in tennis but in sport in general, that he can take that little time and come to Argentina and share with me on the court, speaks for itself.”
