“The truth is, this year has been a big, big struggle for me with a few specific issues,” said the 24-time major champion. “I was just trying to find different ways to at least get myself physically and healthily in good shape to be on the court and compete with the player on the other side of the net.”
Most of all, he insisted on the explanation he kept hearing and rejecting. “People are mixing it up. It’s not endurance, it’s something else, more health-related,” he said. “I don’t want to reveal what it is, but I’m trying to achieve it with my team.” When asked what he hopes for in the upcoming meetings, he closed the topic with four words. “That’s all I can say.”
It’s not fun when you feel that way on the court, because then I’m putting my emotional, mental and of course physical energy into it.
He was more forthcoming about payments. “It’s not fun when you feel that way on the court, because then I’m putting my emotional, mental and physical energy, of course, more into the problems I have than thinking about the game,” he said.
It’s an accurate description of a season that collapsed in its second half amid fatigue, illness and physical problems linked to his back, shoulder and, last year, vomiting on the court in Shanghai. The low point came at the US Open, where he lost in the first round in five sets to Mariano Navone, his first opening round loss at a major in 20 years.
Friday offered a rare hour of relief, which he considered a novelty in itself. “I felt fresher at the end of the second and third sets than I did at the beginning of the match,” he said. “The third set today was really nice from that point of view. After all, I can play tennis without really thinking about all the other events.”
The contrast to his own words four days ago is stark. During his pre-tournament press conference held on September 28, he said to the question about his body. “I’m feeling good so far. Let’s see. Obviously, it’s completely different when you’re playing an official match compared to practice or practice. But so far so good. Overall, so far so good with the body, the way I’ve been playing.”
“Shanghai, I don’t know yet”
None of that has changed his intention to keep playing. “At the moment I’m also not really qualified to race in Turin. I mean, this year I’d like to play if I qualify. I also plan to play with Paris Bercy,” he said. “Shanghai, I don’t know yet. I have to see how I feel here.”
Arithmetic is strict. Djokovic is 11th in the direct race to the Tour, 50 points behind Taylor Fritz in tenth and 79 behind Rafael Jodar in ninth, while Daniil Medvedev is eighth on 3,070 points.
Excerpt:
Novak Djokovic defeated Bu Yunchaoket 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in Beijing with his second medical timeout in two matches, then dismissed the explanation that has dogged him all season. He won’t say what it is and plans to play Paris and, if he qualifies, Turin.
