2023 started in the name of Novak Djokovic. The Serbian champion triumphed in Adelaide and above all at the Australian Open, where he took his tenth title. In addition to having hooked his eternal rival Rafael Nadal at 22 Grand Slams, Nole returned to the top of the ATP ranking by ousting Carlos Alcaraz from the throne after 20 weeks of reign.
The 35-year-old from Belgrade reiterated that he is the strongest around and sent a message to all his opponents in view of Roland Garros. Many believe that the ‘Djoker’ can aim again for the ‘Calendar Grand Slam’, also given Nadal’s precarious physical conditions.
Goran Ivanisevic’s protégé should return to the field at the end of February on the concrete in Dubai, waiting to find out if he will be able to fly to the USA to play the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has requested special permission to enter the United States, where the state of emergency will end on May 11. At the press conference during the ATP in Buenos Aires, Francisco Cerundolo spent nice words for Djokovic.
Cerundolo opens up on Djokovic
Seeded number 5 of the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires, the local Francisco Cerundolo, before his entry into the running, was at a press conference on Tuesday to discuss several subjects including the recent performance of Novak Djokovic who has become world number one following his 10th crown won at the Australian Open.
“For me, he is the best player today. The best tennis player, the number 1 and the champion of the last Grand Slam. It’s impressive because, with all he has already won, he still wants to play and win. I respect him a lot.
And I think it’s a good thing for tennis that it is still at this level, that it is still demanding. If we’re going to beat him, we’re going to have to keep working hard to improve because at 35 he won Australia very comfortably.
But it gives us an indication that there is still a long way to go.” Novak Djokovic’s tendency to often find himself embroiled in controversies has a negative impact on his marketability, according to Nike’s former long-term tennis director Mike Nakajima.
“He could well be the most successful tennis player ever. But there’s always a dark cloud around him. It’s like he brings it upon himself,” reads an excerpt from the book.
